It's described as a city within a city. The development of the old waterside Docklands site in Melbourne's immediate west is a huge and complex urban renewal project that will continue for the next decade.
Docklands is the newest Melbourne suburb, located on land adjacent to Southern Cross railway station, the central city and industrial areas offers a range of entertainment marinas, parks, public arworks, waterfront restaurants and shops, residential, research, education, technology, and business activities.
Docklands is similar in size to Melbourne's central business districk and six times the size of Sydney's Circular Quay.
It has being developed, mostly by private sector investment, with development being staged to meet market demand, with each precinct planned to complement its neighbour.
Almost half of the area's developed space is being used for residential development, with over 8,000 apartments. It is estimated that 20,000 residents will be living in Docklands in the next 15 to 20 years. Docklands is changing the look and feel to Melbourne. It will attrack an estimated 20 million visitors each year and be a workplace for 20,000 people. The continued develpment is projected to create about 3,000 construction and permanent jobs each year.
Improved transport links, including road extensions, tram lines and river boats, area ensuing Docklands is well connected with surrounding areas.
The City of Melbourne, as a council, oversees Melbourne’s city centre and several inner suburbs. As a capital-city council, it also speaks on behalf of Melbourne in local, national and international forums.
The City of Melbourne works with other local councils and the State Government of Victoria to ensure that Melbourne is one of the safest, healthiest, and cleanest cities in the world. It supports Melbourne's position as Australia's pre-eminent centre for arts and culture, education, fine food and dining and shopping.
Suburbs within the municipality of the City of Melbourne include:
View the City of Melbourne boundary map.
Neighbouring Councils of the City of Melbourne include:
The area includes an enclave of beautiful period housing, a short stretch of traffic-heavy Punt Road, a slice of the meandering Yarra River and many major parks and gardens including the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kings Domain (which contains Government House), Queen Victoria Gardens, Alexandra Gardens and Fawkner Park.
It includes the area just south of Fawkner Park with housing, institutions and The Alfred Hospital, a significant trauma centre and medical research facility. The Domain Road shopping centre provides a valuable mix of convenience goods stores, restaurants and cafes to service the local community and a broader clientele.
The area also includes important sports facilities such as Olympic Park and Melbourne Park, home to a variety of sporting and entertainment events such as the Australian Open Tennis Championships.
The residential areas of South Yarra are well established and contain large areas of period housing, most of which are of high architectural quality.
The life and soul of Southbank is the affluent, buzzing riverside promenade stretching along the south
Packed with cafes, shops and restaurants, with a sprinkling of upmarket hotels, major offices, public art and swish new apartments, the promenade is a favourite place for locals and visitors to drink, dine and stroll, all the while taking in the splendid city views.
Southbank is an important cultural hub that includes the Melbourne Arts Centre, Concert Hall, National Gallery of Victoria, the Malthouse
Significant and rapid residential development has occurred in Southbank in recent years, with the population skyrocketing. Housing (all of it apartments) is now the main type of occupancy in the suburb.
In the part of Southbank to the west of Montague Street, industry and warehouses dominate the landscape. Automotive, aerospace, food and construction material companies are significant land users. Webb Dock, one of Melbourne’s major shipping and container docks, is located in Southbank.
Lively Carlton is the traditional home of Melbourne’s Italian community, and visitors and locals flock to the suburb for the atmospheric Italian restaurants and cafes that spill on to bustling Lygon Street. Despite this, nowadays it’s home to a greater proportion of residents from Southeast Asia, the Middle
Virtually all of Carlton falls within the City of Melbourne’s boundaries. Besides busy Lygon Street, with its shops and restaurants, this area also includes the historic Melbourne General Cemetery, the Royal Women’s Hospital, Princes Park with Optus Oval (home to the Carlton Football Club) and the beautiful Carlton Gardens, with the striking, contemporary Melbourne Museum and the domed 19th century Royal Exhibition Building.
Carlton is one of the most dynamic and diverse suburbs in City of Melbourne. It provides for a range of activities including residential, education, cultural activities, retailing, entertainment and leisure. The University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) are located in Carlton and both are expected to grow.
Carlton is the City of Melbourne’s largest residential area. Students comprise a significant proportion of the population, while 23 per cent of housing is public.
East Melbourne is an established, affluent area with gracious, 19th century homes, several of Melbourne’s most iconic landmarks and some of its most beautiful parks. The historic Fitzroy, Treasury and Parliament Gardens separate East Melbourne from the Central City.
Here you’ll find Melbourne’s grand Parliament House, the impressive Treasury Building, St Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral and the world-famous Melbourne Cricket Ground (a hallowed sports ground for the city’s football and cricket lovers). Many other State Government facilities and institutions are also located in this area.
East Melbourne is predominantly a residential area, of mostly comprised of flats and units, but is also home to a number of hospitals and medical clinics providing metropolitan and statewide specialist health services such as the Freemasons Hospital, and the Eye and Ear Hospital. Jolimont, a locality within the suburb, has a mix of office, commercial, institutional and residential uses adjacent to Yarra Park.
Residents have a generally older profile than the rest of the city and more likely to be from an English speaking background.
North Melbourne is one of the city's most dynamic and complex areas. It has a strong residential base of established and new dwelling stock. Commercial and industrial properties are located throughout the area, together with retail and community facilities, and Errol Street is now emerging as one of the latest cool spots to sip and sup.
The focal points of the suburb are the North Melbourne Town Hall (located in Errol Street) and the Metropolitan Meat Market.
West Melbourne is a sprawling region mostly devoted to railway lines, container yards, shipping docks, and industrial, warehouse and wholesale activities.
In West Melbourne, you’ll find the Melbourne Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market, the Coode Island petrochemical facility and the large Appleton Dock.
There is also a small area with houses and businesses. The most significant open space is the Flagstaff Gardens.
West Melbourne's residential area can be characterised in a similar fashion to North Melbourne, namely it is a dynamic and complex residential and mixed-use area. It has a strong residential base of established and new dwelling stock. Commercial and industrial properties are scattered throughout the area, together with retail and community facilities.
Many areas in West Melbourne, including streetscapes and buildings, have been recognised for their heritage significance. Similar to North Melbourne, parts of West Melbourne are experiencing increasing pressure for residential development, especially in the city fringe areas.