Melbourne

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria and the second most-populous city in Australia. It is located near the northern and eastern coastlines of Port Phillip Bay and has a population of about 5.4 million people, making it the southernmost city in the world with more than one million residents. People from Melbourne are called Melburnians.

The area has been home to Aboriginal Victorians for thousands of years, and the traditional custodians include the Boonwurrung, Woiwurrung, and Wurundjeri peoples. Melbourne was founded in 1835 by free settlers and grew quickly during the Victorian gold rush in the 1850s. It became a major city and helped shape Australian culture.

Today, Melbourne is known for its rich cultural heritage, including Australian rules football, Australian impressionism, and a vibrant arts scene. The city features famous landmarks like the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Royal Exhibition Building. Melbourne also hosts important events such as the Australian Grand Prix and the Australian Open. It is considered one of the world’s most livable cities and is a key financial and transportation hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

Name

The area where Melbourne is located is called Narrm in the traditional Boonwurrung and Woiwurrung languages.

The city’s name, Melbourne, is pronounced MEL-bərn. In some places, it might be said as MEL-born, but the local way is always MEL-bərn. Different parts of Melbourne have their own special names from the traditional languages. For example, the area near St Paul’s Cathedral was called Geeburr, the Fitzroy area was Ngár-go, and Collingwood was Yálla-birr-ang. The whole Port Phillip Bay area is known as Naarm, meaning “the Bay.”

History

Further information: History of Melbourne

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Melbourne history.

Indigenous people

Further information: Aboriginal Victorians and Aboriginal Australians

Aboriginal Australians have lived in the Melbourne area for at least 40,000 years. When British colonists arrived in the 19th century, up to 20,000 Kulin people from three distinct language groups – the Wurundjeri, Bunurong and Wathaurong – resided in the area. It was an important meeting place for the clans of the Kulin nation alliance and a vital source of food and water. In June 2021, the boundaries between the land of two of the traditional owner groups, the Wurundjeri and Bunurong, were agreed after being drawn up by the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council. The borderline runs across the city from west to east, with the CBD, Richmond and Hawthorn included in Wurundjeri land, and Albert Park, St Kilda and Caulfield on Bunurong land.

British colonisation

Further information: Foundation of Melbourne

The first British settlement in Victoria, then part of the penal colony of New South Wales, was established by Colonel David Collins in October 1803, at Sullivan Bay, near present-day Sorrento. The following year, due to a perceived lack of resources, these settlers relocated to Van Diemen's Land (present-day Tasmania) and founded the city of Hobart. It would be 30 years before another settlement was attempted.

In May and June 1835, John Batman, a leading member of the Port Phillip Association in Van Diemen's Land, explored the Melbourne area, and later claimed to have negotiated a purchase of 2,400 km² (600,000 acres) with eight Wurundjeri elders. Batman selected a site on the northern bank of the Yarra River, declaring that "this will be the place for a village" before returning to Van Diemen's Land. In August 1835, another group of Vandemonian settlers arrived in the area and established a settlement at the site of the current Melbourne Immigration Museum. Batman and his group arrived the following month and the two groups ultimately agreed to share the settlement, initially known by the native name of Dootigala.

In 1836, Bourke declared the city the administrative capital of the Port Phillip District of New South Wales, and commissioned the first plan for its urban layout, the Hoddle Grid, in 1837. Previously known under various informal names, the settlement was named Melbourne on 10 April 1837 by Bourke after the British Prime Minister, William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, whose seat was Melbourne Hall in the market town of Melbourne, Derbyshire. That year, the settlement's general post office officially opened with that name.

Between 1836 and 1842, Victorian Aboriginal groups were largely dispossessed of their land by British colonists. In 1840, the Superintendent of the Port Phillip District, Charles La Trobe issued a directive to banish Aboriginals from the immediate vicinity of Melbourne. By 1845, fewer than 240 wealthy Europeans held all the pastoral licences then issued in Victoria and became a powerful political and economic force in Victoria for generations to come. Letters patent of Queen Victoria, issued on 25 June 1847, declared Melbourne a city. On 1 July 1851, the Port Phillip District separated from New South Wales to become the Colony of Victoria, with Melbourne as its capital.

Victorian gold rush

Further information: Victorian gold rush

The discovery of gold in Victoria in mid-1851 sparked a gold rush, and Melbourne, the colony's major port, experienced rapid growth. Within months, the city's population had nearly doubled from 25,000 to 40,000 inhabitants. Exponential growth ensued, and by 1865, Melbourne had overtaken Sydney as Australia's most populous city.

An influx of intercolonial and international migrants, particularly from Europe and China, saw the establishment of slums, including Chinatown and a temporary "tent city" on the southern banks of the Yarra. In the aftermath of the 1854 Eureka Rebellion, mass public support for the plight of the miners resulted in major political changes to the colony, including improvements in working conditions across mining, agriculture, manufacturing and other local industries. At least twenty nationalities took part in the rebellion, giving some indication of immigration flows at the time.

With the wealth brought in from the gold rush and the subsequent need for public buildings, a program of grand civic construction soon began. The 1850s and 1860s saw the commencement of Parliament House, the Treasury Building, the Old Melbourne Gaol, Victoria Barracks, the State Library, University of Melbourne, General Post Office, Customs House, the Melbourne Town Hall, St Patrick's cathedral, though many remained incomplete for decades.^{[citation needed]}

Melbourne quickly became a major finance centre, home to several banks, the Royal Mint, and (in 1861) Australia's first stock exchange. In 1855, the Melbourne Cricket Club secured possession of its now famous ground, the MCG. Members of the Melbourne Football Club codified Australian football in 1859, and in 1861, the first Melbourne Cup race was held. Melbourne acquired its first public monument, the Burke and Wills statue, in 1864.

With the gold rush largely over by 1860, Melbourne continued to grow on the back of continuing gold-mining, as the major port for exporting the agricultural products of Victoria (especially wool) and with a developing manufacturing sector protected by high tariffs. An extensive radial railway network spread into the countryside from the late 1850s. Construction started on further major public buildings in the 1860s and 1870s, such as the Supreme Court, Government House, and the Queen Victoria Market. The central city filled up with shops and offices, workshops, and warehouses. Large banks and hotels faced the main streets, with fine townhouses in the east end of Collins Street, contrasting with tiny cottages down laneways within the blocks.

Land boom and bust

The 1880s saw extraordinary growth: consumer confidence, easy access to credit, and steep increases in land prices led to an enormous amount of construction. During this "land boom", Melbourne reputedly became the richest city in the world, and the second-largest (after London) in the British Empire.

The decade began with the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880, held in the large purpose-built Exhibition Building. A telephone exchange was established that year, and the foundations of St Paul's were laid. In 1881, electric light was installed in the Eastern Market, and a generating station capable of supplying 2,000 incandescent lamps was in operation by 1882. The Melbourne cable tramway system opened in 1885 and became one of the world's most extensive systems by 1890.

In 1885, visiting English journalist George Augustus Henry Sala & Joe Harold coined the phrase "Marvellous Melbourne", which stuck long into the twentieth century and has come to refer to the opulence and energy of the 1880s, during which time large commercial buildings, grand hotels, banks, coffee palaces, terrace housing and palatial mansions proliferated in the city. The establishment of the Melbourne Hydraulic Power Company in 1886 led to the availability of high-pressure piped water, allowing for the installation of hydraulically powered elevators, which led to the construction of the first high-rise buildings in the city. The period also saw the huge expansion of a significant radial rail-based transport network throughout the city and suburbs.

Melbourne's land-boom peaked in 1888, the year it hosted the Centennial Exhibition. The bubble supporting the local finance and property industries burst, resulting in a severe economic depression. Sixteen small land banks and building societies collapsed, and 133 limited companies went into liquidation. The Melbourne financial crisis was a contributing factor to the Australian economic depression of the 1890s and the Australian banking crisis of 1893. The effects of the depression on the city were profound, with virtually no significant construction until the late 1890s.

Temporary capital of Australia and World War II

Further information: Federation of Australia

At the time of Australia's federation on 1 January 1901, Melbourne became the seat of government of the federated Commonwealth of Australia. The first federal parliament convened on 9 May 1901 in the Royal Exhibition Building, subsequently moving to the Victorian Parliament House, where it sat until it moved to Canberra in 1927. The Governor-General of Australia resided at Government House in Melbourne until 1930, and many major national institutions remained in Melbourne well into the twentieth century. During World War II, the city hosted American military forces who were fighting the Empire of Japan, and the government requisitioned the Melbourne Cricket Ground for military use.

Post-war period

In the immediate years after World War II, Melbourne expanded rapidly, its growth boosted by post-war immigration to Australia, primarily from Southern Europe and the Mediterranean. While the "Paris End" of Collins Street began Melbourne's boutique shopping and open air cafe cultures, the city centre was seen by many as stale—the dreary domain of office workers—something expressed by John Brack in his famous painting Collins St., 5 pm (1955). Up until the 21st century, Melbourne was considered Australia's "industrial heartland".

Height limits in the CBD were lifted in 1958, after the construction of ICI House, transforming the city's skyline with the introduction of skyscrapers. Suburban expansion then intensified, served by new indoor malls beginning with Chadstone Shopping Centre. The post-war period also saw a major renewal of the CBD and St Kilda Road which significantly modernised the city. New fire regulations and redevelopment saw most of the taller pre-war CBD buildings either demolished or partially retained through a policy of facadism. Many of the larger suburban mansions from the boom era were also either demolished or subdivided.

To counter the trend towards low-density suburban residential growth, the government began a series of controversial public housing projects in the inner city by the Housing Commission of Victoria, which resulted in the demolition of many neighbourhoods and a proliferation of high-rise towers. In later years, with the rapid rise of motor vehicle ownership, the investment in freeway and highway developments greatly accelerated the outward suburban sprawl and declining inner-city population. The Bolte government sought to rapidly accelerate the modernisation of Melbourne. Major road projects including the remodelling of St Kilda Junction, the widening of Hoddle Street and then the extensive 1969 Melbourne Transportation Plan changed the face of the city into a car-dominated environment.

Australia's financial and mining booms during 1969 and 1970 resulted in establishment of the headquarters of many major companies (BHP and Rio Tinto, among others) in the city. Nauru's then booming economy resulted in several ambitious investments in Melbourne, such as Nauru House. Melbourne remained Australia's main business and financial centre until the late 1970s, when it began to lose this primacy to Sydney.

Melbourne experienced an economic downturn between 1989 and 1992, following the collapse of several local financial institutions. In 1992, the newly elected Kennett government began a campaign to revive the economy with an aggressive development campaign of public works coupled with the promotion of the city as a tourist destination with a focus on major events and sports tourism. During this period the Australian Grand Prix moved to Melbourne from Adelaide. Major projects included the construction of a new facility for the Melbourne Museum, Federation Square, the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, Crown Casino and the CityLink tollway. Other strategies included the privatisation of some of Melbourne's services, including power and public transport, and a reduction in funding to public services such as health, education and public transport infrastructure.

Contemporary Melbourne

Since the mid-1990s, Melbourne has maintained significant population and employment growth. There has been substantial international investment in the city's industries and property market. Major inner-city urban renewal has occurred in areas such as Southbank, Port Melbourne, Melbourne Docklands and South Wharf. Melbourne sustained the highest population increase and economic growth rate of any Australian capital city from 2001 to 2004.

From 2006, the growth of the city extended into "green wedges" and beyond the city's urban growth boundary. Predictions of the city's population reaching 5 million people pushed the state government to review the growth boundary in 2008 as part of its Melbourne @ Five Million strategy. In 2009, Melbourne was less affected by the Great Recession in comparison to other Australian cities. At this time, more new jobs were created in Melbourne than any other Australian city—almost as many as the next two fastest growing cities, Brisbane and Perth, combined, and Melbourne's property market remained highly priced, resulting in historically high property prices and widespread rent increases.

Beginning in the 2010s, the State Government of Victoria initiated a number of major infrastructure projects designed to reduce congestion in Melbourne and encourage economic growth, including the Metro Tunnel, the West Gate Tunnel, the Level Crossing Removal Project and the Suburban Rail Loop. New urban renewal zones were initiated in inner-city areas like Fisherman's Bend and Arden, while suburban growth continued on the urban periphery in Melbourne's outer west and east in suburbs like Wyndham Vale and Cranbourne. Middle suburbs like Box Hill became denser as a greater proportion of Melburnians began living in apartments. A construction boom resulted in 34 new skyscrapers being built in the central business district between 2010 and 2020. In 2020, Melbourne was classified as an Alpha city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network.

Out of all major Australian cities, Melbourne was the worst affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and spent a long time under lockdown restrictions. While this contributed to a net outflow of migration causing a slight reduction in Melbourne's population over the course of 2020 to 2022, Melbourne's population is projected to reach 6.4 million people by 2033–34.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Melbourne

See also: Lakes and reservoirs of Melbourne

Melbourne is located in the southeastern part of mainland Australia, within the state of Victoria. The city is built on different types of land, including old lava flows to the west, muddy rocks to the east, and sandy areas along Port Phillip Bay to the southeast.

Melbourne stretches out in many directions. It goes north through valleys and creeks, reaching toward Melbourne Airport. To the southeast, it extends toward areas like Dandenong and Pakenham. In the west, the city follows the Maribyrnong River toward Sunbury. The city also has beautiful beaches along Port Phillip Bay, such as those in Port Melbourne, St Kilda, and Frankston. The closest places where people can surf are about 85 kilometres south of the city center.

Climate

Main article: Climate of Melbourne

Further information: Environmental issues in Melbourne and Extreme weather events in Melbourne

Melbourne has mild temperatures year-round, with warm summers and cool winters. The weather can change quickly because the city is between hot inland areas and the cool ocean. This can bring sudden weather changes, like strong winds, thunderstorms, and heavy rain. Winters are usually dry but often cloudy.

Rainfall in Melbourne varies, with some areas getting much more rain than others. The city is known for having quick, heavy showers that can bring hail and big temperature changes, but these storms often pass quickly. Because of this, Melbourne is famous for having very different weather in just one day. The coldest temperature ever recorded was very cold, and the hottest was extremely hot. Snow sometimes appears in the outer parts of the city but has not fallen in the city center for many years.

The water in Port Phillip Bay changes temperature with the seasons, being warmer in summer and cooler in winter.

Urban structure

See also: Melbourne city centre, List of heritage listed buildings in Melbourne, Lanes and arcades of Melbourne, Parks and gardens of Melbourne, and List of tallest buildings in Melbourne

Melbourne's urban area covers about 2,704 square kilometres, the largest in Australia. The central part of the city, called the CBD, has a grid of streets and is next to the Yarra River. New buildings and areas like Southbank and Docklands have grown around it.

The CBD is very crowded, with many tall buildings. It has historic buildings too, like the Royal Exhibition Building and Parliament House. Melbourne has many parks and gardens, especially around the CBD, with different kinds of plants and paths for walking. There are also parks in the suburbs and national parks nearby.

Housing

Main article: Housing in Victoria, Australia

Melbourne has little public housing, and many people want to rent homes, which makes it hard to afford them. The city is growing quickly, so there is a lot of demand for housing. This has made house prices and rents go up. New housing is being built in outer areas, but rules now encourage building more homes close to public transport in existing areas.

Architecture

Further information: Architecture of Melbourne and List of tallest buildings in Melbourne

Melbourne grew quickly during the gold rush in the 1850s and the land boom in the 1880s. Because of this, the city became famous for its beautiful Victorian-style buildings, many of which are still standing today. You can see lots of these old buildings in areas like Carlton, East Melbourne, and South Melbourne. Some important examples are the Royal Exhibition Building, built in 1880, and the Hotel Windsor, built in 1884.

As Melbourne grew in the early 1900s, new building styles appeared. You can find buildings from the Federation and Edwardian periods, like the City Baths from 1903. There are also buildings inspired by styles from Chicago and Art Deco, such as the Nicholas Building and the Manchester Unity Building. The city has many different types of homes, including large houses, apartments, and townhouses. Older-style houses and mansions can still be seen in neighborhoods like Carlton and Toorak.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Melbourne

Melbourne is famous for its music, theatre, and arts. The city hosts many cultural events and festivals, like the Melbourne International Arts Festival, Melbourne Fringe Festival, and Moomba, which is Australia's largest free community festival. For many years, Melbourne was named one of the world's most liveable cities because of its rich culture.

The city has many theatres, including historic ones in the East End Theatre District. Melbourne is also known for its live music, with many venues. The National Gallery of Victoria is Australia's oldest and largest art museum. Melbourne has a long history of making films and hosts the Melbourne International Film Festival.

Sport

Further information: Sport in Victoria

Melbourne is often called Australia’s sporting capital because of its big role in creating and supporting sports. The city has many top-level sports teams and famous events. In 2016, it was even named the best sports city for ten years.

Some of the biggest events held in Melbourne include the 1956 Summer Olympics, which were the first Olympics outside Europe and the United States, and the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The city also hosts the Australian Open tennis tournament and the Melbourne Cup horse race, known as “the race that stops a nation.” The Formula One Australian Grand Prix races at Albert Park Circuit too.

Cricket and Australian rules football are very popular in Melbourne. The Melbourne Cricket Ground, one of the world’s biggest stadiums, has hosted important matches since the 1800s. Melbourne is home to many football teams that play in the Australian Football League. The city also has teams in soccer, rugby league, basketball, ice hockey, baseball, and netball.

Economy

See also: Category:Companies based in Melbourne and Tourism in Melbourne

Melbourne has a strong and varied economy. It is good at finance, making things, researching new ideas, technology, learning, moving goods, and welcoming visitors. Many big companies in Australia have their main offices in Melbourne. These include big names like ANZ, BHP, and National Australia Bank. Melbourne has a busy port and airport, making it easy for people and goods to come and go.

Melbourne makes many products, from cars to medicines to clothes. It is also a place where many new ideas are tested and created. The city has many technology companies and lots of people who work with computers and digital tools. Visitors also love Melbourne. In 2018, many people from Australia and other countries stayed in Melbourne for a night while they visited. Big places like Federation Square and Melbourne Zoo are very popular.

Melbourne is the second most visited city in Australia. In 2018, many people from Australia and other countries visited Melbourne. Popular places to see include Federation Square, Queen Victoria Market, and Melbourne Zoo. Melbourne is known for being a safe and friendly place for visitors.

Melbourne is famous for its food. Lygon Street has many restaurants with Italian and Greek food. The city has many food festivals, especially in early autumn, called “mad March”. The biggest is the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, which started in 1993 and lasts ten days.

Melbourne has many special events and festivals each year. The Melbourne International Comedy Festival happens every March and April. Other festivals include the Melbourne Flower and Garden Show and the Melbourne International Jazz Festival.

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Melbourne

See also: Parks and gardens of Melbourne

Melbourne is a very popular place for visitors. Many people come to see places like Federation Square, Queen Victoria Market, and Melbourne Zoo. The city has many fun places to explore, and it is known for being safe and welcoming to tourists.

Melbourne’s food is famous all over the world. Lygon Street is a favorite spot for delicious Italian and Greek meals. The city hosts many food festivals, especially in early autumn, known as “mad March”. The biggest is the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, which started in 1993 and lasts for ten days.

Melbourne has many exciting festivals and events. The Melbourne International Comedy Festival happens every year in March and April. There are also festivals for flowers, jazz music, and more.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Melbourne

Melbourne grew by about 105,000 people in 2024-25 and is expected to become Australia's largest city sometime between 2032 and 2046. The city has become more crowded, especially in the center and western suburbs, thanks to planning by the government to stop the city from spreading out too much. As of 2025, the central business district has the most people living in Australia, with over 43,000 residents per square kilometer. Some of the inner suburbs like Carlton, South Yarra, Fitzroy, and Collingwood also have high numbers of people.

At the 2021 census, the most common ancestries in Melbourne were English, Australian, Chinese, Irish, Scottish, Italian, Indian, Greek, German, and Vietnamese. Most people in Melbourne were born in Australia, but many also came from countries like India, Mainland China, England, Vietnam, and New Zealand.

In Melbourne, many people speak only English at home, but some also speak Mandarin, Vietnamese, Greek, Punjabi, and Arabic.

Melbourne has many different religions. The most common is Christianity, with many people also having no religion. Other religions include Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Judaism. The city has important Christian buildings like St Patrick's and St Paul's cathedrals.

Education

Main article: Education in Melbourne

Melbourne is home to some of the best high schools in Australia, with five of the top twenty schools located here. The city is also a popular place for students from around the world, ranking fifth best for studying abroad. Melbourne has eight public universities, including the University of Melbourne, Monash University, Swinburne University of Technology, and others.

These universities have campuses across Australia and in other countries, such as Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The University of Melbourne is one of the oldest and highest-ranked universities in Australia. Many students from other countries choose to study in Melbourne each year. The Victorian Department of Education helps manage education in the area.

Media

Main article: Media in Melbourne

See also: List of Australian radio stations § Melbourne

Melbourne has three main daily newspapers: the Herald Sun, The Age, and The Australian. There are six main free-to-air digital television stations in the area, including ABC Victoria (ABV), SBS Victoria, Seven Melbourne, Nine Melbourne, Ten Melbourne, and C31 Melbourne. Each of these stations shows a main channel and several extra channels.

Many AM and FM radio stations broadcast to Melbourne. These include public stations like ABC and SBS, community stations, and commercial stations such as Nova Entertainment, ARN, and Southern Cross Austereo. There are also youth stations like ABC Triple J and SYN, as well as stations for different music tastes and community groups.

Governance

The governance of Melbourne is divided between the government of Victoria and the 27 cities and four shires that make up the area. There is no single leader for Melbourne, but the Lord Mayor of the City of Melbourne often acts as a key representative.

Local governments handle tasks like urban planning and waste management. Most other services, such as public transport, roads, policing, schools, and health care, are managed by the Victorian state government from Parliament House in Spring Street.

Transport

Roads

Main article: Transport in Melbourne

Melbourne, like many cities in Australia, uses cars a lot, especially in the outer areas. There are about 3.6 million cars using 22,320 km of roads. Cars became popular in the early 1900s, leading to more people living farther from the city and commuting to work.

The roads in Victoria are planned and managed by the Department of Transport and Planning. Local roads are maintained by local governments, while bigger roads are managed by the Department. Major highways include the Eastern Freeway, Monash Freeway, and West Gate Freeway. Some roads charge a fee to use, called toll roads, which have special blue and yellow signs.

Public transport

Main article: Transport in Melbourne

Melbourne has many ways to travel without a car, including trains, trams, buses, and taxis. Flinders Street station is a very busy train station and a famous landmark. Melbourne’s tram network is the largest in the world, with many routes and stops. Trams are free in the city center on certain routes. Buses help connect areas that trains and trams don’t reach.

Train

Main article: Railways in Melbourne

See also: Rail transport in Victoria

Melbourne’s train network started in the 1850s and has many stations and lines that connect to the city center. Flinders Street station is a major hub. There are also trains that go to other cities in Victoria and to Adelaide and Sydney. New train projects are being built, including the Metro Tunnel and the Suburban Rail Loop.

Tram

Main article: Trams in Melbourne

Melbourne’s tram network is the largest in the world, with many tracks, trams, and stops. Some trams are old and special, and they run for free around the city center on weekends.

Bus

Main article: Buses in Melbourne

Melbourne has many bus routes that help people travel to areas not served by trains or trams.

Airports

Main article: List of airports in the Melbourne area

Melbourne has four airports. Melbourne Airport is the busiest, handling many passengers each year. It is a main airport for several airlines. There are plans to build a train to connect the airport to the city. Other airports in the area serve smaller flights and cargo.

Water transport

The Port of Melbourne is a big port that handles many ships and cargo. Ferries and water taxis travel on the Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay.

Infrastructure

Health

Melbourne shares the top spot with Canberra for the longest life for men among Australia's big cities, and it ranks second for women. The government looks after about 30 public hospitals and many health services in the area.

The city is a center for important medical research with many leading institutes focused on areas like the brain and new medicines. Big names include the St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, the Australian Stem Cell Centre, and the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity. Many of these work closely with universities. Melbourne is also home to major children’s hospitals like the Royal Children’s Hospital and Monash Children’s Hospital.

Utilities

Water for Melbourne is managed by Melbourne Water, a government agency. They take care of water storage, supply, and cleaning, using reservoirs and dams, including the big Thomson River Dam.

Gas in Melbourne is provided by three companies covering different parts of the city and surrounding areas. Electricity comes from five different companies, each serving various neighborhoods and regions around Melbourne.

Main article: Energy in Victoria (Australia)