Melbourne - is it the best you can get?
You bet. For long Melbourne has been adjudged as one of the best
cities to live in. In 2002, and again in 2004, Melbourne was
adjudged the best city to live in, by Economic Intelligence
Unit, a sister concern of The Economist. The annual poll is
conducted among around 130 cities around the world, and has
parameters covering five diverse fields: stability, healthcare,
culture & environment, education, and infrastructure. With
terrorism being a creeping worldwide threat, safety and security
was also a consideration. Melbourne's numero uno position is a
reflection on the ideal living conditions it offers not just to
the citizens, but also tourists and expatriates.
The state capital of Victoria, Melbourne was the first Federal
Capital of Australia, from 1901 to 1927. It derives its name
from 2nd Viscount Melbourne, Willam Lamb, the former PM of UK.
European settlement of Melbourne started in 1835 when settlers
arrived from Tasmania who had trouble finding land there.
Indigenous Kulin people have been living here for thousands of
years, however. Melbourne grew quickly after the Victorian gold
rush of the 1850s, when it became the chief port and service
area for south Victoria. During the 1880s, it was the second
largest city of the English Empire, called 'Marvellous
Melbourne' those days. Today, the city has the largest number of
surviving Victorian era buildings, after London. Till very
recently, Melbourne was the largest city in Australia (Sydney
now holds the title).
Melbourne is a haven for tourists. It has something for
everyone. Called Australia's 'Garden City', it is home to
numerous parks and gardens. One of the oldest gardens is the
Flagstaff Garden. Royal Botanic Gardens and King's Domain are
highly regarded. There is also the Queen Victoria Gardens and
the Alexandra Gardens. The Carlton Gardens and the Royal
Exhibition Building are listed as a World Heritage Site. In
these verdant spaces one can find the varied hues of nature,
from English Oaks, White poplars, plane trees, to elm, conifers,
cedars, Turkey oaks, Araucarias.
Melbourne hosts a disproportionately large number of spectator
sports, and every year thousands of sports fans visit the city
to witness the very best in sporting. The Melbourne Cricket
Ground, regarded as the best cricket stadium in the world, is
host to sports besides cricket, like Australian football and
rugby. Scheduled to host the 2006 Commonwealth Games, it is
undergoing renovation. Melbourne also hosts the Australian Open
tennis tournament.
Melbourne has many architectural wonders, like the Rialto and
Eureka towers. Other spaces of tourist interest include the
Melbourne Museum, Royal Exhibition Building, National Gallery of
Victoria, Hamer Hall (now Melbourne Concert Hall), and much
more.
Melbourne has moderate climate throughout the year attracting
tourists round the year. Situated near numerous suburban
attractions, it has many wonderful beaches within its city
limits, and many outside. The nearby Mornington Peninsula is a
charming village with both sheltered and open sea beaches. Far
from the crowd of Melbourne, it offers easy access to the best
city of the world, as well as its own handsome charms.
VerveBeachside offers various accommodation solutions for all
types of needs, from private beach-side retreats, bayside beach
houses to villas and self-contai
ned service apartments at various places in the Mornington
Peninsula. The peninsula is situated very near Melbourne.