Melbourne

Summaries by topic so you can get to know the city easily.

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Melbourne is the capital of Victoria and Australia's second-largest city, home to about 5.2 million people.

Updated 1 July 2026

Three tiers of government shape the city: federal, state (Victoria) and local councils. State government matters most day to day.
The Premier is Jacinta Allan (Labor), in power since 2014. The next Victorian state election is on 28 November 2026.
The state runs major roads, public transport, hospitals, schools and police, plus vehicle registration via VicRoads.
The City of Melbourne council covers only the central city; the Lord Mayor is Nick Reece. About 30 other councils run the wider metro.
The main parties are Labor and the Liberal and National Coalition; the Greens are strong in inner-city seats.

Australian rules football (AFL) is the most popular code. Nine of the 18 AFL clubs are based in greater Melbourne.
The AFL season runs March to September and ends with the Grand Final at the MCG, with a public holiday on Grand Final Friday.
Major venues: the MCG (about 100,000 seats) and Marvel Stadium; Melbourne Park for tennis; Flemington for racing; Albert Park for the Grand Prix.
Marquee events: the Australian Open (January), the Australian Grand Prix (March) and the Melbourne Cup (first Tuesday of November).
Other codes: Melbourne Storm (rugby league), Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City (football), and Melbourne United (basketball).

Melbourne runs the world's largest tram network, plus trains and buses, all paid for with a Myki card.
Trams are free inside the CBD Free Tram Zone; tap on with Myki outside it.
Trains run from the underground City Loop, about 5am to midnight, with all-night Night Network services on weekends.
Reach Tullamarine Airport by SkyBus, taxi or rideshare, about 30 to 45 minutes from the CBD. A rail link is under construction.

Melbourne is Australia's second-largest economy, services-led and diverse.
Key industries: education (a large international-student sector), healthcare, finance and professional services, construction, and hospitality and tourism.
The currency is the Australian dollar; prices include 10% GST; tipping is uncommon.
Living costs are high, though housing is generally cheaper than Sydney.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) sets the official cash rate, which drives mortgage and savings rates.
The big four banks (CBA, Westpac, NAB, ANZ) dominate everyday banking.
The ASX is the national stock exchange.
Superannuation is compulsory retirement saving, about 12% of pay.

Big industries: education, health, finance and professional services, property and construction, hospitality and tourism, and a growing technology and startup sector.
Major employers include the big banks, universities, hospitals and government.
The CBD, Docklands and the inner-east are the main commercial hubs.
The city regularly hosts global business events.

The food scene is shaped by migration, with strong Greek, Italian, Vietnamese and Chinese communities.
Brunch and coffee are a big part of the culture; some venues are BYO (bring your own wine).
Queen Victoria Market is the classic food landmark.
Tap water is free and safe; tipping is uncommon; the legal drinking age is 18.

Melbourne is generally considered safe, with high-quality healthcare.
The phone number for emergency services (police, fire or ambulance) is 000.
Residents use Medicare, the public health system; visitors should carry travel insurance. A pharmacy is a chemist.
You drive on the left; power is 230V with Type I plugs.
The weather is changeable; summers can bring fire-danger days, so sun protection matters even on cool days.

Australia has an active home-grown entertainment industry; many actors and musicians began their careers here.
In Melbourne, AFL players, TV presenters and chefs are among the most recognised public figures.
Reality television, music and screen productions drive much of the entertainment news cycle.
The Brownlow Medal night before the AFL Grand Final is the city's most prominent celebrity red-carpet event.