History and Heritage
- Aboriginal history
- Heritage walks
- Colonial-era buildings
Okay, so you're not going to find a 4000-year-old king's tomb buried under Melbourne, but you'll be surprised at the number of interesting historical attractions dotted around the city.
Most hail from the colonial period, particularly from the gold rush days when an influx of immigrants and money resulted in a building boom – remembering that this was back in a time when buildings were also made to be works of art.
Before Europeans and their urban society settled, Melbourne was home to a number of Indigenous groups and there are plenty of opportunities to explore this history, which goes back over 40,000 years. The Port Phillip region was originally inhabited by five Aboriginal language groups, which made up the Kulin nation. The Aboriginal Heritage Walk is a good way to learn more about their history, or visit the Melbourne Museum with its extensive collection of Indigenous art and artifacts.
The best way to get a feeling for colonial-era Melbourne is to walk the CBD streets and look up (careful not to walk in front of a tram). Building facades, many with dates chiselled into them, tell an intricate story of Melbourne's history. The most famous buildings can be seen along the Golden Mile Heritage Trail , a four-kilometre walk that has brass markers describing points of interest, important buildings and other worthy attractions. The trail begins at the Immigration Museum (information brochures available there and at Federations Square's Melbourne Visitor Centre ) and ends at the Melbourne Museum. You can take a self-guided walk, or guided tours are available.
Historic buildings not to miss include Flinders Street Station , the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens, the Town Hall, the State Library and the Banking Museum building on Collins Street, which hosts perhaps the longest stretch of historical buildings. Spring Street also has its fair share – see the Treasury Buildings, State Parliament, the imposing Windsor Hotel and the Princess Theatre.
The Shrine of Remembrance War Memorial is a must-visit to help understand Australia's role in conflicts worldwide and remember the fallen, while the restored 1885 tall ship Polly Woodside at the Melbourne Maritime Museum gives a seafarer's snapshot of Melbourne's enduring link with ocean farers.
A reminder of Melbourne's more opulent past is seen at a number of architecturally impressive historic mansions, which are open to the public. Among the best are Como House (a colonial mansion set in two hectares of garden at Toorak), Rippon Lea (the last of Australia's great privately owned 19th-century suburban estates) and Werribee Mansion , located on Melbourne's western outskirts.
Religious or not, everyone can appreciate the splendor of a good church, and Melbourne has some beauties tucked in among the high rises. Duck into St Paul's (corner Flinders and Swanston streets), the neo-Gothic St Patrick's (corner Albert and Gisborne streets) or St Michael's (corner Collins and Russell streets) for some city salvation.
