The area of present-day Melbourne has been occupied by humans since 31,000 to 40,000 years, before the arrival of Europeans. It was inhabited by hunter-gatherers from three indigenous regional tribes- the Boonwurrung, Wurundjeri and Wathaurong. The first European settlement was started by Colonel David Collins in October 1803. The settlement of present-day Melbourne began in 1835, when colonisers from Tasmania purchased the land from the local aboriginal tribes. In 1837, the streets of Central Melbourne were laid out. The city was named after William Lamb, 2nd Viscount of Melbourne, who was the British Prime Minister during that time. In 1851, Victoria was separated from New South Wales. Later, gold was discovered in Victoria, leading to a huge gold rush. In 1901, the colonies became an independent federation and Melbourne was named as the temporary capital of Australia. Later, the capital was shifted to Canberra. Melbourne grew rapidly following World War II, with immigration from Europe, predominantly from Greece and Italy. They were followed by Jewish immigrants and the immigrants from the South-east Asian countries, mostly from Vietnam and Cambodia.

The culture of Melbourne is diverse, owing to the different cultural backgrounds of its residents. It is widely known as the ‘sports and cultural capital’ of Australia. The arts, literature, dance, music, sports and festivals reflect this diverse culture. The Moomba, Melbourne International Arts Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival and the Melbourne Fringe Festival attract numerous visitors every year. With a number of art galleries, orchestras, opera productions, film festivals and music concerts, one can never be bored in Melbourne. There are several museums dedicated to vast subjects such as science, history, sports, etc. Melbournians are known for their love for sports and the entire city joins in to cheer their teams during various sporting events, such as Australian Football League and Melbourne Cup.

Melbourne is home to 4.35 million people. It is a quintessential melting pot as the residents belong to 180 countries and speak more than 233 languages, following 116 religions. It has a huge Asian population, especially from India and Sri Lanka. The original inhabitants were the indigenous Australians, but they comprise only 0.6 % of the population. The people of Melbourne are known to be very friendly in nature and call themselves ‘Melbournians’. They take things easy and have a laid-back attitude.