The suburb of East Melbourne is located two kilometres east of the central business district of the city of Melbourne. The area is home to many significant buildings including the Parliament of Victoria, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Government of Victoria. The affluent streets and charming tree-lined avenues are home to some of the oldest Victorian parks, gardens and residences in the city.
There is much to see and do in East Melbourne, beginning in Fitzroy Gardens, a haven of peace and tranquillity inside a busy metropolis. Stroll through the historic gardens, admire the splendid floral displays in the Spanish Mission Conservatory and discover intricately carved sculptures, ornate fountains and a model Tudor village. For sports lovers, Melbourne Cricket Ground is a few blocks away where visitors can explore the National Sports Museum with its interactive displays, trophies and photographs, or take a tour of one of Australia’s most popular sporting stadiums. A short six-minute walk transports visitors to the Melbourne Museum and the majestic structure of the Royal Exhibition Building. With so many attractions, it’s easy to see why the area is so popular with both residents and visitors. Fine dining is also never far away in East Melbourne, as a variety of gastronomic delicacies are available ranging from creative Vegetarian cuisine to Italian food and trendy Australian eateries.
East Melbourne is a breeze to reach from central metropolitan areas, only a pleasant half hour stroll from the city centre or a bike ride via one of Melbourne’s many cycling routes. There are also several buses serving the suburb, and trams which stop at North and West Richmond and Jolimont. If arriving into the city from further afield Flinders Street Railway Station is an easy twenty-five-minute walk or local buses depart from the rail station which can take visitors into East Melbourne.
East Melbourne was originally planned as one of the first suburbs of the city in 1837, the first settlers arriving in the 1840’s after neighbouring zones of Victoria, Collingwood and Fitzroy became inhabited. One of the primary settlers was Charles La Trobe and many wealthy professionals followed his lead constructing elegant Victorian mansions along the tree-lined boulevards. Today, East Melbourne is home to the main government seats in the region and numerous upmarket hotels, apartments and bed and breakfast establishments. It’s close proximity to central Melbourne, exceptional transport routes and several popular local attractions nearby makes this suburban interesting quarter to visit.