Melbourne

Australia

Quote

"Melbourne is the city of capitalist opportunity. Anything you could ever want to buy or sell moves through Melbourne. I'm not saying it's a friendly town, especially not to us. If you're not careful, you might leave your ashes here." -- Uncle Smelly

About The City

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia and Oceania. The name "Melbourne" refers to the area of urban agglomeration (as well as a census statistical division) spanning 9,900 km2 (3,800 sq mi) which comprises the broader metropolitan area, as well as being the common name for its city center. The metropolis is located on the large natural bay of Port Phillip and expands into the hinterlands towards the Dandenong and Macedon mountain ranges, Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley. Melbourne consists of 31 municipalities. It has a population of 4,347,955 as of 2013, and its inhabitants are called Melburnians.

Geography

Melbourne is located in the south-eastern part of mainland Australia, within the state of Victoria. Geologically, it is built on the confluence of Quaternary lava flows to the west, Silurian mudstones to the east, and Holocene sand accumulation to the southeast along Port Phillip. The southeastern suburbs are situated on the Selwyn fault which transects Mount Martha and Cranbourne.

Melbourne extends along the Yarra River towards the Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges to the east. It extends northward through the undulating bushland valleys of the Yarra's tributaries—Moonee Ponds Creek (toward Tullamarine Airport), Merri Creek, Darebin Creek and Plenty River—to the outer suburban growth corridors of Craigieburn and Whittlesea.

The city reaches south-east through Dandenong to the growth corridor of Pakenham towards West Gippsland, and southward through the Dandenong Creek valley, the Mornington Peninsula and the city of Frankston taking in the peaks of Olivers Hill, Mount Martha and Arthurs Seat, extending along the shores of Port Phillip as a single conurbation to reach the exclusive suburb of Portsea and Point Nepean. In the west, it extends along the Maribyrnong River and its tributaries north towards Sunbury and the foothills of the Macedon Ranges, and along the flat volcanic plain country towards Melton in the west, Werribee at the foothills of the You Yangs granite ridge south west of the CBD. The Little River, and the township of the same name, marks the border between Melbourne and neighbouring Geelong city.

Melbourne's major bayside beaches are located in the various suburbs along the shores of Port Phillip Bay, in areas like Port Melbourne, Albert Park, St Kilda, Elwood, Brighton, Sandringham, Mentone, Frankston, Altona, Williamstown and Werribee South. The nearest surf beaches are located 85 kilometres (53 mi) south-east of the Melbourne CBD in the back-beaches of Rye, Sorrento and Portsea

Government

The governance of Melbourne is split between the government of Victoria and the 26 cities and five shires which comprise the metropolitan area. There is no ceremonial or political head of Melbourne; however, the Lord Mayor of the City of Melbourne often fulfills such a role as a first among equals, particularly when interstate or overseas.

The local councils are responsible for providing the functions set out in the Local Government Act 1989[183] such as urban planning and waste management. Most other government services are provided or regulated by the Victorian state government, which governs from Parliament House in Spring Street. These include services which are associated with local government in other countries and include public transport, main roads, traffic control, policing, education above preschool level, health and planning of major infrastructure projects. The state government retains the right to override certain local government decisions, including urban planning, and Melburnian issues often feature prominently in state election.

Population

• -- City (6.8 Million) - 2040 census
• -- Urban (14.2 Million) - Dated census
• -- Metro Area (19 million) - Dated census

Mass Media

Three daily newspapers serve Melbourne: the Herald Sun (tabloid), The Age (formerly broadsheet, now compact) and The Australian (national broadsheet). Six free-to-air television stations service Greater Melbourne and Geelong: ABC Victoria, (ABV), SBS Victoria (SBS), Seven Melbourne (HSV), Nine Melbourne (GTV), Ten Melbourne (ATV), C31 Melbourne (MGV) – community television. Each station (excluding C31) broadcasts a primary channel and several multichannels. C31 is only broadcast from the transmitters at Mount Dandenong and South Yarra. Hybrid digital/print media companies such as Broadsheet and ThreeThousand are based in and primarily serve Melbourne.

Neighborhoods of the City

At more than 7,695 sq. km (2,971 sq. miles), Melbourne is one of the biggest cities in the world by area, with a population of about 3.5 million. Following are the neighborhoods of most interest to visitors.

Melbourne City Centre

Melbourne Chinatown

Carlton -- North of the center, Carlton is a rambling suburb famous for Italian restaurants along Lygon Street with outdoor seating—though the quality of the food varies. It’s the home of Melbourne University, so there’s a healthy student scene. From Bourke Street Mall, it’s a 15-minute walk to the restaurants. Tram: 1 or 22 from Swanston Street.

Fitzroy -- A ruggedly bohemian place 2 km (1 1/4 miles) north of the city center, Fitzroy is raw and funky, filled with students and artists and popular for people-watching. Fitzroy revolves around Brunswick Street, with its cheap restaurants, busy cafes, late-night bookshops, art galleries, and pubs. Around the corner, on Johnston Street, is a growing Spanish quarter with tapas bars, flamenco restaurants, and Spanish clubs. Tram: 11 from Collins Street.

Richmond -- One of Melbourne’s earliest settlements is a multicultural quarter noted for its historic streets and back lanes. Victoria Street is reminiscent of Ho Chi Minh City, with Vietnamese sights, sounds, aromas, and restaurants everywhere. Bridge Road is a discount-fashion precinct. Tram: 48 or 75 from Flinders Street to Bridge Road; 70 from Batman Avenue at Princes Bridge to Swan Street; 109 from Bourke Street to Victoria Street.

Southgate & Southbank -- This flashy entertainment district on the banks of the Yarra River opposite Flinders Street station (linked by pedestrian bridges) is home to the Crown Casino, Australia’s largest gaming venue. Southbank has a myriad of restaurants, bars, cafes, nightclubs, cinemas, and designer shops. On the city side of the river is the Melbourne Aquarium. All are a 10-minute stroll from Flinders Street Station. Tram: 8 from Swanston Street.

Docklands -- Near the city center, at the rear of the Spencer Street station, this industrial area has become the biggest development in Melbourne. NewQuay on the waterfront has a diverse range of restaurants, shops, and cinemas. This is also where you’ll find Melbourne’s celebration of the dominance of Australian Rules football, the 52,000-seat Etihad Stadium. Docklands is accessible by the free City Circle Tram.

St. Kilda

South Yarra/Prahran -- This posh part of town abounds with boutiques, cinemas, nightclubs, and galleries. Chapel Street is famous for its upscale eateries and designer-fash1ion houses, while Commercial Road is popular with the gay and lesbian community. Off Chapel Street in Prahran is Greville Street, a bohemian enclave of retro boutiques and music outlets. Every Sunday from noon to 5pm, the Greville Street Market offers arts, crafts, old clothes, and jewelry. Tram: 8 or 72 from Swanston Street.

South Melbourne -- One of the city’s oldest working-class districts, South Melbourne is known for its historic buildings, old-fashioned pubs and hotels, and markets. Tram: 12 from Collins Street; 1 from Swanston Street.

The River District -- The muddy-looking Yarra River runs southeast past the Royal Botanic Gardens and near other attractions such as the Arts Centre, the National Gallery of Victoria, the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and Birrarung Marr parkland. It is accessible by the free City Circle Tram.

Williamstown --

Schools

• -- Monash University

• -- RMIT University

• -- University of Melbourne

• -- Deakin University

• -- Swinburne University of Technology

• -- Victoria University

Transportation

• -- Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine)

Vampires of the City

Brujah

• --Leslie "Squizzy" Taylor-- Prince of Melbourne
• -- Larson Moore -- King of the Drug Trade
• -- Conrad Schrek -- Controls the Police Force
• -- Fenris -- Enforcer
• -- Antonio Romano -- Enforcer

Caitif

The Tomb Boys

• -- Ki --
• -- Radu --
• -- Colin --

Gangrel

• -- Lady Eliza Worthington -- Primogen
• -- Crow -- Anarch

Malkavian

• -- Mathew "Bluey" Cousins

Nosferatu

• -- Simone Alvarde -- Primogen
• -- Kerry Simpson -- Anarch
• -- Michelle Morgan -- Rape victim

Tremere

• -- Professor Cipher -- Chantry Regent, Melbourne
• -- Natasha Karaljk Scheinberg -- Tremere prophetess
• -- Seth Dalibor Petocs -- Tremere Initiate
• -- Czere Ubireg -- American Tremere Apprentice of the 4th Circle.

Toreador

• -- Tien Hsu -- "Mehitabel"
• -- Maria Diamente -- Toreador Primogen
• --Sebastian Wilde -- Childe of Sarrasine, ambassador from Sydney.

Ventrue

• -- Thorton Adams -- Ventrue Primogen
• -- Melissa Redman -- Political Animal
• -- Victoria Grant -- Late Night News caster

Sabbat of Melbourne

• -- Naomi McKeller -- Ventrue Antitribu