Living in Melbourne

Melbourne, capital of the state of Victoria, is a cosmopolitan city with a multicultural population of over 3.6 million people living and working harmoniously. In 2007, for the third consecutive year Melbourne had the largest population increase of Australia's capital cities.

For a city of its size, Melbourne is relatively safe and friendly and the cost of living is low compared to British or USA cities.

Melbourne is generally considered the cultural capital of Australia, constantly celebrating its diversity with art exhibitions, theatre, festivals and sporting and cultural events, including:

•   Melbourne International Film Festival
•   Melbourne Food and Wine Festival
•   Melbourne Fringe Festival
•   Melbourne International Arts Festival
•   Melbourne International Comedy Festival
•   Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival
•   Melbourne Writers Festival
•   Melbourne Fashion Festival
•   Melbourne Spring Fashion Week
•   Melbourne International Design Festival
•   Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show

The Yarra River and its adjoining parklands border the CBD. Commuting cyclists heavily use the river bicycle path during the week, recreational riders at weekends. The riverbank is a popular place for a barbecue or picnic while watching boats and rowers cruising up and down. Downstream, on the western edge of the city is the still-evolving Docklands precinct. Its apartments, offices, restaurants, marinas and Telstra Dome sports stadium have injected vitality into this formerly neglected part of the city.

Love it or loathe it, Federation Square, opened in 2002, has become Melbourne's public plaza. Everyone has an opinion on its striking architecture. The square is the focus for an array of activities, usually free, including theatre, rallies, dancing, concerts and screening of sports events happening elsewhere in the city. Located here are the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia (NGVA) and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI).

Melburnians are sports mad. International sporting events staged here include the Australian Tennis Open, the Australia Formula One Grand Prix, international cricket (the Boxing Day Test at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground is not to be missed!) and the Melbourne Cup now attracting international hopefuls in pursuit of the lucrative prize purse. On Monday mornings from March to September people gather to dissect the weekend's round of the Australian Rules football competition and criticise the umpiring if their team has lost.

Melbourne CBD has hidden secrets. Its network of back lanes branching off the main city streets conceals a plethora of treasures: funky bars, restaurants, live music, local designer fashion and galleries. It's here that the after-dark action happens. Pick up a Hot Spots booklet from the Visitor Information Centre, at Federation Square to find out what's on where.

A short tram ride away are the trendy shopping and cafe strips of Brunswick Street, Gertrude Street, Chapel Street and bayside St Kilda. Sit with a caffe latte at one of the kerbside cafes and watch the passers by - a favourite Melbourne pastime - and you will be regarded as a local! Great places for cash-strapped students are the markets around town. Check out the Queen Victoria, South Melbourne, Prahran and Footscray markets for fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, cheeses, cheap clothing, cookware and almost everything imaginable.

Areas around the inner city are popular with students seeking accommodation. Consider sharing a house or flat with other people to keep rent affordable. Carlton, Fitzroy, Footscray, Brunswick, Richmond, Collingwood offer options that are easily accessible by public transport to the rest of the city and the Academy campus. Suburbs further out generally offer lower density housing and cheaper rents.

Melbourne is a diverse, friendly city with lots to offer. You will enjoy discovering it for yourself! Below are some useful websites to help you get started.

Useful websites
Visit the following websites for information on living and studying in Melbourne:

•   www.studyinaustralia.gov.au The official Australian Government website     for overseas students, with information in several languages. Download the     helpful booklet 'Guide to Studying and Living in Australia'.
•   www.immi.gov.au The website of the Department of Immigration and     Citizenship (DIAC) with information about living in Australia.
•   www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/pacific/australia/melbourne     The website of this travel expert profiles what's great about Melbourne.
•   www.thatsmelbourne.com.au A guide to what's happening in Melbourne.