Melbourne is a very pleasant city to live in and visit, with a rich architectural and cultural heritage.
On my previous trip to Australia, I was delighted to discover Sydney and Brisbane, and I was looking forward to finally going to Melbourne, whose charms everyone had praised. Now that it’s done, I’d like to take you on a quick tour of the main sights.
- La National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)
- The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI)
- The Ian Potter Centre
- The Eureka Tower Skydeck
- The Immigration Museum
- Melbourne Aquarium
- St Paul’s Cathedral
- St Patrick’s Cathedral
- Melbourne Museum
- Shrine of Remembrance
- The Royal Botanic Gardens
- A stroll through Melbourne
- Bottom Line
La National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)
On a personal note, I found a fairly decent collection of Impressionists there, even if it has absolutely nothing to do with the Musée d’Orsay or the Art Institute of Chicago.
On the other hand, I was a little taken aback by the organization of the museum, and sometimes found it hard to find what I was looking for.
The museum is also designed with families in mind, with plenty of fun activities to interest the youngest visitors. A family-friendly, playful concept, not at all elitist, and a little surprising for Europeans.
Last but not least: the museum is free, as are most of the city’s museums.
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI)
For fans of the subject, this is a museum dedicated, as its name suggests, to cinema, television and video games. Fun and not uninteresting for those who appreciate these art forms.
The Ian Potter Centre
It is an outbuilding of the National Gallery of Victoria, which houses the Australian collection. This makes it the largest museum dedicated exclusively to Australian art.
I wasn’t expecting much, but I visited it with a certain curiosity, and in the end I have to admit it was very interesting.
At the time of my visit, there was also a temporary exhibition of watercolors. It was an opportunity for me to discover the Hermannsburg school. This is a group of artists who followed Albert Namatjira, whose watercolors brought the beauty of the West MacDonnell Ranges to the attention of Australians in the mid-20th century. Hermannsburg was Albert Namatjira’s home town and the birthplace of several generations of artists who have carried on his legacy.
I really enjoyed it.
The Eureka Tower Skydeck
At 297 m, the Eureka Tower is Australia’s tallest residential tower. It boasts a panoramic observation platform 280m above sea level, offering an exceptional view of the city.
The Immigration Museum
It is dedicated to the communities that populated Australia and to the construction of the Australian identity.
Some parts are interesting, but it’s a museum that can be visited very quickly.
Melbourne Aquarium
If the Sydney aquarium had disappointed me, this one was even worse.
Not much to see, reflections on some of the windows, organization so unclear that I had trouble figuring out which way to go (an open door that should have been closed meant that many visitors short-circuited part of the tour and had to do it the other way around)….
Not essential at all, except perhaps if you have children.
St Paul’s Cathedral
This Anglican cathedral was built between 1880 and 1926. It is in the neo-Gothic style.
St Patrick’s Cathedral
This neo-Gothic Catholic cathedral was built between 1858 and 1939.
Melbourne Museum
This is a natural history museum that I visited for two reasons. The first was that I needed to take shelter during a rainstorm, and the second was that it housed a temporary exhibition on the discovery of a lost civilization built with legos.
Shrine of Remembrance
This memorial was originally dedicated to the citizens of the State of Victoria who fell in the First World War, but today it is dedicated to all Australians who perished during the war.
Inside is a museum that tells the story of Australia during the war, and I was particularly interested in how fighting for the first time as a nation alongside their former settlers had helped forge the Australian identity and sense of belonging of this young nation.
The memorial also offers a breathtaking view of the city.
The Royal Botanic Gardens
A stroll through Melbourne
Generally speaking, walking around Melbourne is very pleasant and, even without any particular goal in mind, it’s a great way to discover its neighborhoods, their architecture and enjoy the city’s friendly, noisy atmosphere.
I’d also recommend taking a walk along the Yarra River, or even taking one of the boats that offer excursions on it.
Bottom Line
Melbourne is a very lively and pleasant city, and its atmosphere alone is worth a visit. What’s more, its cultural heritage offers some interesting things to do, and generally speaking, the town and its surroundings are very pretty.
