Melbourne is Australia's second largest city and the capital of Victoria, located around Port Phillip Bay. It has a population of about 3.8 million (2007 estimate), including its suburbs. Melbourne is the world's southernmost millionaire city. Area: 8806 km². Coordinates: 37°49′14″ S. 144°57′41″ E. Time zone: UTC+10, in summer UTC+11. The city's official website is melbourne.vic.gov.au
History of Melbourne
Before the arrival of Europeans, these lands were inhabited by the Australian aborigines Wurungeri. In 1803 the English made the first attempt to establish a colony here. However, the idea was not successful.
In 1835 Europeans again began to develop this land. In 1836 the city was declared the center of Port Phillip County. The following year the city received its present name. In 1851, Melbourne became the capital of Victoria. The "gold rush" encouraged an influx of population and money into the city. In 1861, Melbourne boasted the country's first stock exchange.
In the 1880s Melbourne was one of the largest cities in the British Empire. But in 1891 the city was hit by a crisis. In 1901, Melbourne was declared the temporary capital of Australia. During World War II, the city received many orders, which allowed the economy to grow. The growth of the city continued after the war.
Melbourne Today
Melbourne is one of Australia's major industrial, commercial and cultural centers. The city is also a major port with an annual turnover of about AUD$75 billion.