All About Melbourne & Australia
Australia is a modern beauty, with a grounding in an ancient landscape and indigenous populace. In architecture, art and culture Australia celebrates the concordance of the very new and the very old, the European and the traditional, and all things in between!
The upbeat lifestyle of Australian cities such as Melbourne and Sydney (the capital of New South Wales) both contrasts and complements the laconic, untouched landscape, and the straightforward, relaxed lifestyle of country Australia.
The relationship between country Victoria and its capital Melbourne, aptly demonstrates this happy marriage of opposites. The ruggedly handsome Dandenong Ranges and Mornington Peninsula are easily accessible from the European elegance of Melbourne, situated at the mouth of the Yarra River on the southern coast of Victoria.
Surrounded by Victorian snow fields (including Mount Buller and Falls Creek) and the superb wine growing region of the Yarra Valley, Melbourne's modernism nestles comfortably within the heart of this ancient and striking countryside. Hugging Port Phillip Bay, the city's 3.2 million people are spread across 17,000 square kilometres of urbanity. Indeed, the city is the youngest in the world to reach such a size.
The Melbourne architecture is primarily from the nineteenth century, but recent government initiatives have seen modern structures spring up throughout the city, including along arterial roadways.
While Sydney is the largest, and perhaps the most famous, of Australia's cities - and while Canberra is Australia's capital - Melbourne is the country's cultural and cosmopolitan heart. Art, design and diversity are things Australia does surprisingly well - and the Melbourne lifestyle embodies this aspect more than any other Australian city.
Numerous waves of immigration have contributed significantly to this diversity, both artistically and culturally. With more than 130 different nationalities represented within the population (not to mention 80 different restaurant cuisines), the immigrant contribution is undeniable. Greek (Melbourne has the world's third largest Greek speaking community outside of Greece itself!), Italian and Vietnamese immigrants figure most prominently in the city's population. But there is a significant Chinese population as well, evinced by the sprawling nature of Melbourne's China Town, and festivals such as the Melbourne International Dragonboat Festival.
Melbourne is also a microcosm of broader Australia in its pursuit of sporting entertainment and perfection. Australia is renowned for its sporting prowess (particularly on the Tennis Court and in the pool), and Melbourne is the host of many and varied sporting events, such as the Australian Open. Melbourne is also the birthplace and guardian city of Australian Rules Football, one of the most strenuous sports in the world.
Sport is encouraged from a young age in Australia, and is taught at school alongside more traditional academic pursuits. Indeed, many students continue their interest in sport throughout their university years and into later life. University and city facilities make such pursuits an easy undertaking.
The Australian Cultural system is not oriented solely toward sport, however, and in fact is of a high, international standard. Students from all states complete 12 years of secondary schooling and in Victoria, undertake exams at the end of their schooling to obtain a university entrance mark.
Melbourne universities such as Monash University and RMIT are internationally recognised for their high level of teaching. Graduates are sought after in both the national and international career markets. And students have a robust national and Victorian career market to rely upon after graduation.
Additionally, both secondary and tertiary educational institutions promote a high level of internationalism within their campuses. And although a level of proficiency in English is a pre-requisite, there are many English language courses available, which have frequent student intakes.
For more information on Melbourne, Victoria, check out the following sites:
If you would like to learn more about Australia and the different states and cities, please click on one of the following links.
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