MUSEUMS
Melbourne Museum
Adjacent to the Royal Exhibition Building in the Carlton Gardens is the largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere. At Melbourne Museum you can discover the origin of life in Victoria over 600 million years, roam amongst prehistoric creatures, check out the bugs, and explore the seas in the Science and Life Gallery, and enter the nest of ancestral spirit Bunjil in the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre.
Immigration Museum
Through emotive exhibitions, Melbourne’s Immigration Museum investigates Victoria’s multicultural identity. Located within Victoria’s Old Customs House, the museum explores the eventful and at time harrowing immigrant stories through exhibits such as Leaving Home, Journeys of a Lifetime and Getting In.
Scienceworks
Linking ‘Melbourne’s industry, heritage and applied technology’, Scienceworks is a place where inquisitive minds can ask why and discover how. See an electrifying presentation in the Lighting Room, voyage into deep space at the Planetarium, discover the dynamics of human movement and race against Olympic champion Cathy Freeman in Sportwoods, and tour the century-old Pumping Station.
National Sports Museum
Situated within the walls of the hallowed Melbourne Cricket Ground, the National Sports Museum celebrates Australian sport and the history of the MCG. The museum features the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame and Australian Football Hall of Fame, as well as sporting memorabilia, holograms, and interactive experiences.
Hellenic Museum
Endeavoring to preserve and promote ‘the artistic and cultural heritage of ancient and modern Greece’, the Hellenic Museum holds a vast collection of artifacts. See Cypriot pottery, cast ancient Greek statues, and check out Bill Henson’s photographic installation ONEIROI. Starting in 2014, for 10 years the Hellenic Museum will also house a priceless collection of antiquities from the Benaki Museum, Athens, showcasing 8,000 years of Greek civilisation to Melbourne.
Grainger Museum
Australia’s only autobiographical museum opened in 1938 under the strict instruction of the eccentric Australian composer and pianist Percy Grainger who longed for immortality through musical legacy and a dedicated museum. Throughout its history, the museum has acquired over 100,000 items including published scores and manuscripts, mementos, diaries, letters, photographs and 250 fascinating musical instruments.
Medical History Museum
Established with the purpose of better understanding western medicine, the Medical History Museum traces more than 400 years of Western medicine through a collection of over 7,000 pieces. Donated by Melbourne Medical School alumni and the public, the collection includes artifacts, doctor’s records, scientific instruments and equipment, and research material.
Chinese Museum
Located in Chinatown, the Chinese Museum is dedicated to preserving the heritage and culture of the Australian Chinese community. Also acting as Chinatown’s visitors centre, the museum features three permanent exhibitions: Finding Gold, Dragon Gallery and Chinese Australian History. Over five floors you’ll see textiles, photographs and artefacts including The Millennium Dai Loong Dragon – the largest Chinese dragon in the world.
Shrine of Remembrance
Melbourne’s iconic monument was built as a memorial to honour all those who served during World War I and all Australians who have since served in military conflict and peacekeeping operations. Open daily, visitors can wander through reflective exhibition spaces including Galleries of Remembrance, The Victoria Cross and Gallery of Medals and see over 800 objects including photos, uniforms and historical artefacts.
ACMI
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image is ‘Australia’s only national museum of film, video games, digital culture and art,’ and features two cinemas, exhibition spaces and the permanent and ever-evolving exhibit Screen Worlds. See Cate Blanchett’s Oscar, props from Baz Lurhmann’s Moulin Rouge and costumes from Kylie Minogue, Dame Edna and Heath Ledger.
Old Melbourne Gaol
For 87 years, Victoria’s Old Melbourne Gaol housed minor offenders and notorious criminals including gangster Squizzy Taylor. Among those executed were bushranger Ned Kelly and Jack the Ripper suspect Frederick Bailey Deeming. Today, the prison operates as a museum where visitors can see death masks, Kelly gang weapons and memorabilia from prisoners and staff.
PARKS
Fitzroy Gardens
To the east of Melbourne’s CBD are the Fitzroy Gardens, renowned for being some of the most beautiful in the city. Fitzroy Gardens is also where you can find one of the most historic buildings in Australia, Captain Cook’s Cottage. This building was originally built in England and transferred to the Fitzroy Gardens to be rebuilt brick-by-brick during the early 20th century, where it still stands today and is one of Melbourne’s most visited tourist attractions.
Birrarung Marr Park
A park that extends along the north side of the Yarra River from the modern architectural meeting place Federation Square, Birrarung Marr is often the location of many local festivals. This park is, of course, a fantastic place to relax by the river, but don’t forget to check out the impressive sculptures, especially the Federation Bells on the middle terrace, a collection of inverted bells suspended on poles that are electronically controlled to play pieces by original Australian compositions.
Royal Botanical Gardens
One of the largest and most iconic gardens in Australia, the Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens are located just south of the CBD. They cover over 38 hectares of land stretched along Melbourne’s Yarra River and contain thousands of different exotic and native Australian plants. These gardens are also home to the relaxing and popular Moonlight Cinema; the commemorative Shrine of Remembrance, which is Melbourne’s largest war memorial; and the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, part of the Arts Centre Melbourne, and one of Australia’s largest outdoor theatres.
Flagstaff Gardens
The Flagstaff Gardens are Melbourne’s oldest park, having been established in 1862, and is listed as one of Australia’s heritage sites. Originally, these gardens were a cemetery for Melbourne’s earliest colonial inhabitants. Just across from these gardens is the famous Queen Victoria Market, which is one of the largest markets in greater Melbourne. These gardens are also home to many mature trees and flowerbeds, as well as wild native animals such as possums and an array of native birdlife.
McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park
Out in Frankston, about a 30-minute drive south-east of Melbourne’s CBD, you’ll be able to find the McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park. This innovative outdoor art space is set on four grassy acres of land, and boasts a collection of over 100 sculptures that display the significance of Australian wildlife and Australia’s bush landscape. The McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park remains the main focus for sculpture in Australia and is one of the largest sculpture parks in the country.
MARKETS
Queen Victoria Market
Covering 17 acres, Queen Victoria Market ‘is the largest open-air market in the southern hemisphere.’ Shuffle through the Dairy Produce Hall and Meat Hall before the hawker cries lead you out into the Fruit and Veg sheds. The heritage listed market is also the place to pick up souvenirs, giftware and other general goods as well as a hot jam donut.
The Rose St Artists’ Market
Showcasing Melbourne’s best art and design talent, The Rose St. Artists’ Market in Fitzroy is the place to go ‘for all things handmade.’ Each Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm, you can browse the stalls for weird and wonderful bespoke creations that will have friends and strangers alike asking in envy ‘where did you get that?’ If you’re feeling peckish afterward, head to the market eatery Young Bloods Diner.
Camberwell Market
Luring treasure hunters with vintage trinkets, knickknacks and hot jam donuts, the Camberwell Market has been a beloved part of the community since 1976. It’s even said to be the place where Kylie Minogue’s stylist found those infamous gold hot pants. Comb through vintage clothes, records, antiques and an array of bric-a-brac every Sunday from 6:30 am to 12:30 pm. Whether you arrive with The Torch Brigade at some ungodly hour or prefer to browse during the day, you won’t leave empty-handed.
St Kilda Esplanade Market
Since 1970, Melbournians have flocked seaside to peruse St Kilda’s Esplanade Market. Whether you’re after gifts, souvenirs, homewares, jewellery or delicious treats, St Kilda’s Sunday market has something for you. Chat with the artists and craftspeople as you stroll passed more than 140 stalls while enjoying the view of St Kilda Beach.
Prahran Market
Renowned for being ‘the food lover’s market,’ The Prahran Market has been a fixture on Commercial Road for over 125 years. Devoted to supplying customers with the highest quality fruit and veg, organic produce and hard to find specialty goods, the market is a must visit for foodies. Whether you’re after handmade pasta, kombucha, southern rock lobster or something unusual from the mushroom man, then drop into Victoria’s premier food market.
Fed Square Book Market
Each Saturday, bibliophiles gather within The Atrium at Federation Square to flick through new and pre-loved books at Melbourne’s largest weekly book market. Breathe in the bookish musk of over 5000 titles across a multitude of genres and rub shoulders with book dealers, authors, illustrators and Melbourne’s book buskers.
South Melbourne Market
The South Melbourne Market may have more than 145 traders, but over the course of its 150 year history, the self-proclaimed village market has never lost its community spirit. From gourmet goods to locally grown fruit and vegetable, boutique wines, confectioneries and clothing, the vibrant market continues to attract locals looking for a shopping experience coloured by quirky, passionate and knowledgeable vendors.
