Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, is the second largest city in Australia.
Melbourne was originally settled by graziers, John Batman being the first. He claimed land just north of Port Phillip Bay, whilst other graziers also decided to occupy areas near the Yarra River, but without the necessary permission to colonise.
Captain William Lonsdale was sent from Sydney to oversee the land sales. The township being established in 1835 and named after the British Prime Minister at the time, Lord Melbourne. Having been originally considered part of New South Wales, Victoria was established as a separate colony in 1851.
Melbourne's multicultural atmosphere is set amongst Victorian-era buildings and gorgeous parkland. It has a population of just over 4 million people, and is a picturesque place with so much to offer the visitor and resident alike. It's hard to believe that such a fantastic location was abandoned by the first settlers who had arrived in 1803 and then departed to Tasmania after staying for less than one year. Being such a diverse place, Melbourne offers everything for the tourist from tennis and bikeriding to fishing and windsurfing.