Melbourne is the capital and largest city in the State of Victoria and the
city with the second largest population in Australia (greater metropolitan
area 3.9 million). The settlement was established in 1835 by free settlers
around the estuary of the Yarra River and declared a city by Great Britain’s
Queen Victoria in 1847. The city was transformed into a wealthy metropolis
when gold was discovered in the area in the 1850s and by the 1880s had
become one of the richest in Australia. Melbourne is an acclaimed centre for
arts, commerce, education, industry, tourism and sport. It is noted for its
arresting blend of Victorian and modern architecture, spacious parks and
vibrant multi-cultural lifestyle, home to 233 nationalities speaking over
180 languages. The metropolitan area has good beaches although its moderate
oceanic climate is notoriously changeable. Since 2002, it has consistently
ranked in The Economist’s top three 'World's Most Livable Cities'.
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