Melbourne

Melbourne is the capital of Victoria. Its area is 714 sq. miles and population over 3 million. Most of Melbourne families own houses. Downtown Melbourne is on the northern shore of Port Phillip Bay. The Yarra River runs through Melbourne. The city enjoys winter cool nights, delightful sprig and autumn and warm summer. January and February are the hottest months in Melbourne (25°C , water 21,5°C).

John Batsman, a farmer from Tasmania bought 240,000 hectares from the aborigines and paid them with blankets and tomahawks. The city was named after William Melbourne 1779-1845, British Whig statesman and Prime Minister in 1835-41. He was the leading adviser of the young queen Victoria.

Melbourne is a multi-cultural city. It is home to many cultural groups speaking 170 languages. The city has one of the largest Greek and Italian populations in the world.

It is a little old-fashioned city with beautiful parks and gardens and some fine old buildings. Important buildings include the State Library of Victoria and Parliament House. The Victorian Arts Centre completed in 1884 includes facilities for conceits and plays. The National Gallery of Victoria, an art museum, is part of the Victorian Arts Centre. The Centre was opened in 1982 and is known for its webbed steel spire. The tower observation deck gives a panoramic view of Melbourne. The Centre houses the Melbourne Concert Hall and three theatres seating about 6,000 people with a revolving stage for opera.

The Melbourne Zoo (1857) is one of the oldest in the world. It is a home to 3,000 animals.

Several parks surround the city. Melbourne has an extensive public transportation system. The City Circle Tram runs every 10 minutes and the conductor points out the most interesting sights in Melbourne. The Melbourne Cup, a famous horse race, takes place yearly at Remington Race Course. In 1956, the Olympic Games were held in Melbourne.

Melbourne is a seaport and a trading centre of wool and livestock. The main industries of the city are engineering, food processing and textiles. Melbourne is a major commercial centre. Port Melbourne serves ocean-going vessels. The Melbourne area has an international airport Tullamarine. The Melbourne area is the home of La Trobe University, Monash University and some colleges.

In 1956 the Olympic Games were held in Melbourne. They became known as friendly Games.

HOBART

Hobart is the capital of Tasmania. Is population is over 182,000. It lies on the Derwent River 12 miles from the sea. David Collins founded the city in 1804. It was a major centre for Antarctic whalers. It is a trade and export centre of iron, timber and textiles. Modern factories in the city produce cement, paper pulp, textiles, and candy and metal products. Two multilane bridges link the western and eastern shores of the Derwent River. Hobart is the home of the University of Tasmania (1890) and scientific research laboratories.

Adelaide

Adelaide, the capital of South Australia and "Athens of the South" is situated on the Torrens River. Population of Adelaide is over 1,000,000. Port Adelaide is 7 miles away.

Europeans first settled Adelaide in 1836. Colonel William Light completed the plan of the city in 1837.The city was named for Queen Adelaide, whose husband, William IV, ruled Britain from 1830 to 1837.

Adelaide is the most symmetrically laid out of Australian capitals. It is a very neat city. There is beautiful strip parkland in Adelaide. The best view of Adelaide is from the top of the mount. The Mount Lofty Rangers rises east of the city. Adelaide has warm dry summers and cool moist winters.

The city became a centre of agricultural and mining activity. Manufacturing is the chief city's activity. Products include home hold appliances, motor vehicles, and electric goods. It exports wheat, wool, and copper ore. The industries of the city include production of wool, leather, iron, and earthenware goods.

Adelaide is the home of the University of Adelaide founded in 1874 and 5 colleges.

DARWIN

Darwin is the capital and the port of NT. It has population over 79,000. It lies along Australia's northern coast on the Beagle Gulf. It is the home of Australian television and radio services that broadcast to Southeast Asia. Darwin has a large military base. Darwin, originally called Palmerston, was established in 1869. In 1911 the city was renamed in honour of Charles Darwin (1809-82), English naturalist who on the vessel Beagle sailed round the world in 1831-36. The city became the first station in Australia on a telegraph line combined Australia with Europe. In 1974 a cyclone destroyed most of the city. The city was rebuilt during the 1970s.