World City Guide

Key Attractions

Old Melbourne Gaol
The Old Melbourne Gaol was established in 1841 and expanded rapidly during the gold rush. The jail was the setting for 135 hangings, most famously for that of Ned Kelly in 1880. Exhibits include a collection of death masks and Kelly’s armour.

Russell Street
Tel: (03) 9663 7228. Fax: (03) 9639 0119.
E-mail: omg@nattrust.com.au
Website: www.nattrust.com.au
Transport: Museum Station; City Circle Tram to corner of Latrobe Street and Russell Street.
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1700.
Admission: A$15; concessions available.

Federation Square
Designed as an architectural icon in a city that loves modern architecture, Federation Square is a complete new city block which opened in 2002, and brings together social, cultural and commercial activities. Highlights include NGV: Australian Art (the world’s largest collection of Australian art), Federation Pub (a three-level, space-age watering hole), the Australian Centre for the Moving Image and the Atrium.

Flinders Street
Tel: (03) 9639 2800. Fax: (03) 9663 3652.
Website: www.federationsquare.com.au
Transport: Flinders Street Station.
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours.
Admission: Free.

Royal Botanic Gardens
Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens contain extensively landscaped gardens covering 35 hectares (86 acres) and featuring thousands of plants from across Australia and around the world. Free guided walks or self-guided audio walks are available.

Birdwood Avenue
Tel: (03) 9252 2300. Fax: (03) 9252 2350.
Website: www.rbg.vic.gov.au
Transport: Numerous trams along St Kilda Road; Flinders Street Station.
Opening hours: Daily 0730-1730 (Apr-Oct); daily 0730-2030 (Nov-Mar).
Admission: Free.

Melbourne Observation Deck
Located on level 55 of the tallest office building in the southern hemisphere, the Melbourne Observation Deck offers 360-degree panoramic views of Melbourne and the surrounding areas. The facilities also include a licensed café-bar. A 20-minute film about the city is included with admission.

525 Collins Street
Tel: (03) 9629 8222. Fax: (03) 9614 8231.
E-mail: ob.deck@rialto.com.au
Website: www.melbournedeck.com.au
Transport: Spencer Street Station; tram 11, 12 or 109.
Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 1000-2200, Fri-Sat 1000-2300.
Admission: A$10.50; concessions available.

National Gallery of Victoria
The NGV: St Kilda Road houses Victoria’s impressive international collections, including Picasso’s Weeping Woman, with the large Australian collection going to Federation Square (see above).

180 St Kilda Road
Tel: (03) 9208 0203. Fax: (03) 9208 0245.
Website: www.ngv.vic.gov.au
Transport: Flinders Street Station; trams 7, 23, 24, 30, 34, 35.
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700.
Admission: Free; fees for temporary exhibitions vary.

Melbourne Museum
Australia’s largest museum opened in October 2000 and boasts a living, breathing Forest Gallery, the giant Rubik’s cube of the Children’s Museum, the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Centre and displays featuring dinosaurs, the history of Melbourne and the beloved racehorse Phar Lap.

Carlton Gardens
Tel: (03) 8341 7777. Fax: (03) 8341 7778.
Website: http://melbourne.museum.vic.gov.au
Transport: Parliament Station; trams 86 or 96 or City Circle tram to Victoria Street.
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700.
Admission: A$15; concessions available.

Melbourne Cricket Ground
Yarra Park is home to the world-famous Melbourne Cricket Ground, or MCG, the venue for many national and international cricket matches. The ground is open for guided tours and contains the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, Olympic Museum and Australian Gallery of Sport.

Yarra Park, Jolimont
Tel: (03) 9657 8879. Fax: (03) 9654 1387.
Website: www.mcg.org.au
Transport: Jolimont train station.
Opening hours: Guided tours available 1000-1500 half-hourly, except on match days.
Admission: A$16; concessions available.

Melbourne Zoo
Melbourne Zoo is Australia’s oldest zoo and over recent years has enjoyed large-scale investment to improve facilities for both the resident animals and visitors. There is an African rainforest with gorillas, orangutans, hippos and big cats, as well as a particularly impressive butterfly house and a bushland exhibit, which is home to many of Australia’s native wildlife species.

Elliott Avenue, Parkville
Tel: (03) 9285 9300. Fax: (03) 9285 9350.
Website: www.zoo.org.au
Transport: Royal Park Station; tram 55 Mon-Sat or tram 68 Sun.
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1700.
Admission: A$15.30; concessions available.

Rippon Lea House Museum & Historic Garden
The last of Australia’s great privately owned 19th-century suburban estates, Rippon Lea House, built in 1863, has opulent interiors and superbly maintained grounds.

192 Hotham Street, Elsternwick
Tel: (03) 9523 6095. Fax: (03) 9523 6921.
Website: www.nattrust.com.au
Transport: Rippon Lea Station; tram 67.
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700.
Admission: A$11; concessions available.