Melbourne – Here I come

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The take off is in 10 days which is somehow unbelievable. I have been seeking this experience for a long time and it is finally happening. In the fall of 2023: Exchange Semester at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.

In this blog post, I will be writing about what awaits me. Melbourne – who are you? Swinburne – what do you offer? 

Melbourne: 

Melbourne is the capital of the state of Victoria, located at the head of Port Phillip Bay, on the southeastern coast. The city has recently overtaken Sydney as the most populous city in Australia with its 5.235.000 residents, which is roughly 20% of the total population of Australia.

The Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2023 Global Liveability Index has ranked Melbourne the third-best place to live, due to its high scores on education, healthcare, culture, stability, infrastructure, and the environment of the city. Melbourne held the title of the world’s most livable city for eight consecutive years, from 2011 to 2017.

   Fun facts

  • Melbourne was originally named Batmania, before being officially named Melbourne on 10 April 1837 by Governor Richard Bourke in honour of the British Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne
  • In 1850 during the Victoria Gold Rush, Melbourne became the richest and largest city in the world
  • Melbourne was the capital city of Australia for 26 years between 1901 and 1927 before the capital shifted to Canberra, which remains the capital to this day 
  • A person who lives in or comes from Melbourne is called a Melbournian
  • As of the year 2021, around 38% of Melbourne’s residents were born overseas
  • Melbourne is home to the highest Italian and Greek populations in the world outside their own countries
  • Melbourne has the highest number of restaurants and cafes per number of people than any other city in the world!
  • Melbourne is considered Australia’s unofficial sporting capital, and is the only city in the world with five international standard sporting facilities (Melbourne Cricket Ground, Docklands Stadium, Rod Laver Arena, Hisense Arena, Olympic Park)
  • Melbourne hosted the summer Olympics in 1956, the first city outside of Europe and North America to host the Olympic games
  • The ever-popular Australian sport of Australian Football League (AFL) was invented in Melbourne
  • Melbourne has world’s largest tram network, Yarra Trams, with 250 km of double track and over 1,700 stops
  • Melbourne is known for its unpredictable weather, and it’s often possible to experience four seasons in one day
  • The world-famous Australian beer Fosters Lager was originally produced in Melbourne by two Americans
  • Vegemite was invented, and still produced, in Melbourne
  • “I’ll meet you under the clocks” is a traditional meeting place in Melbourne and refers to the ones featured on the facade of Flinders Street Station

Swinburne: 

Swinburne University of Technology is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1908 by the Honourable George and Ethel Swinburne as the ‘Eastern Suburbs Technical College’ with its main campus in Hawthorn, a suburb of Melbourne, 7.5 km from the Melbourne central business district, Swinburne has continued to evolve, gaining university status in 1992. Today, the motto of Swinburne is Factum per Litteras, meaning “Achievement through learning”.

Swinburne has over 30,000 students enrolled worldwide, supported by 2,800 staff and an alumni network of over 170,000. With three campuses in Melbourne and one international campus in Sarawak, Malaysia, Swinburne’s emphasis is on high-quality teaching and world-class research in science, technology and innovations that make a difference. Swinburne’s research strengths are in the areas of advanced manufacturing technologies, astrophysics, biotechnology, cognitive sciences, design, computing, micro and nano-engineering, optics, applied laser technology, and social sustainability.

 

Recommendations for Melbourne

Coffee:

  • Seven Seeds Coffee Roasters (114 Berkeley St, Carlton VIC 3053)
  • Bench Coffee Co. Lt Collins (321 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000)
  • Fabian (262 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000)
  • Calle Bakery (649 Rathdowne St, Carlton North VIC 3054)

Bars:

  • Goldilocks
  • Naked for Satan
  • Beneath Drivers Lane
  • Union Electric Bar & Rooftop
  • Lui Bar
  • Mt View Hotel

Brunch:

  • CIBI (33-39 Keele St, Collingwood VIC 3066)
  • Grain Store (517 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000)
  • Vertue Coffee Roasters CARLTON (8 Raffa Pl, Carlton VIC 3053)
  • Higher Ground (650 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000)

Activities:

  • The Lane Ways: Hosier Lane, Degraves Street, Duckboard Place
  • Royal Botanic Gardens
  • NGV International
  • Melbourne Museum
  • Flinders Street Station (“Under the clocks”)
  • Musical and Shows (Her Majesty´s Theatre, The Princess Theatre)
  • Walk along the Yarra River
  • Queens Victoria Market
  • South Melbourne Market
  • Walk in Albert Park (Formula 1 is taking place here)
  • Shrine of Remembrance
  • Melbourne Skydeck
  • Denmark House (check if they have an event)
  • AFL at the Melbourne Cricket ground (MCG)

Trips:

  • Great Ocean Road (12 Apostles)
  • Phillip Island (Pinguin Parade)
  • Mornington Peninsula (Surfing)
  • Wilsons Promontory National Park (Hiking)
  • Mount Buller (Snowboarding)