City of Melbourne

Melbourne is Victoria’s capital city and the business, administrative, cultural and recreational hub of the state.

Melbourne at a glance

The City of Melbourne municipality covers 37.6 sq km and has a residential population of around 100,611 (as of 2011). On an average day, around 805,000 people use the city, and Melbourne hosts over a million international visitors each year.

All of these residents, workers, shoppers and travellers can take a break in one of the around 145,000 cafe or restaurant seats, or walk through some of its 471 hectares of parkland. They can visit Melbourne's tallest building, the 300m high Eureka Tower, or its oldest building, the Mitre Tavern, built in 1837.

The entire Melbourne metropolitan area covers 7694 sq km and has a population of around 4.1 million.

The people of Melbourne

Melbourne's population is made up of many groups of people of all ages and from many different cultures. City residents include young professionals, international students and older couples looking to enjoy everything the city has to offer now that the kids have grown up and left home.

Melbourne and government

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, dining and shopping.