Melbourne

Melbourne is the capital of Victoria. Its area is 714 sq. miles and population over 3 million. Most of Melbourne families own houses. Downtown Melbourne is on the northern shore of Port Phillip Bay. The Yarra River runs through Melbourne. The city enjoys winter cool nights, delightful sprig and autumn and warm summer. January and February are the hottest months in Melbourne (25°C , water 21,5°C).

John Batsman, a farmer from Tasmania bought 240,000 hectares from the aborigines and paid them with blankets and tomahawks. The city was named after William Melbourne 1779-1845, British Whig statesman and Prime Minister in 1835-41. He was the leading adviser of the young queen Victoria.

Melbourne is a multi-cultural city. It is home to many cultural groups speaking 170 languages. The city has one of the largest Greek and Italian populations in the world.

It is a little old-fashioned city with beautiful parks and gardens and some fine old buildings. Important buildings include the State Library of Victoria and Parliament House. The Victorian Arts Centre completed in 1884 includes facilities for conceits and plays. The National Gallery of Victoria, an art museum, is part of the Victorian Arts Centre. The Centre was opened in 1982 and is known for its webbed steel spire. The tower observation deck gives a panoramic view of Melbourne. The Centre houses the Melbourne Concert Hall and three theatres seating about 6,000 people with a revolving stage for opera.

The Melbourne Zoo (1857) is one of the oldest in the world. It is a home to 3,000 animals.

Several parks surround the city. Melbourne has an extensive public transportation system. The City Circle Tram runs every 10 minutes and the conductor points out the most interesting sights in Melbourne. The Melbourne Cup, a famous horse race, takes place yearly at Remington Race Course. In 1956, the Olympic Games were held in Melbourne.

Melbourne is a seaport and a trading centre of wool and livestock. The main industries of the city are engineering, food processing and textiles. Melbourne is a major commercial centre. Port Melbourne serves ocean-going vessels. The Melbourne area has an international airport Tullamarine. The Melbourne area is the home of La Trobe University, Monash University and some colleges.

In 1956 the Olympic Games were held in Melbourne. They became known as friendly Games.

HOBART

Hobart is the capital of Tasmania. Is population is over 182,000. It lies on the Derwent River 12 miles from the sea. David Collins founded the city in 1804. It was a major centre for Antarctic whalers. It is a trade and export centre of iron, timber and textiles. Modern factories in the city produce cement, paper pulp, textiles, and candy and metal products. Two multilane bridges link the western and eastern shores of the Derwent River. Hobart is the home of the University of Tasmania (1890) and scientific research laboratories.