Victoria/ VIC ( Melbourne)

The facts
Victoria is the second largest state in Australia by population with 5.2 million people in a land area of 227,420 square kilometres. The capital, Melbourne, is the arts centre of Australia, and people are drawn to the romance of grand old buildings, fantastic dining, and an abundance of arts events. Melbourne has an exciting multicultural society with a history of both European and Asian immigration.

What makes Victoria unique?
Victoria has some of the country’s best museums and entertainment venues. Victoria is known for its sporting events, such as the Grand Prix and the Melbourne Cup, its incredible scenery and its network of regional cities. There are ski fields and beaches, along with wine-growing regions and industrial centres.

Melbourne has lots of festivals, including the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the Melbourne International Film Festival. The Arts Precinct is the epitome of Melbourne’s high-class culture and comprises the National Gallery of Victoria, Victorian Arts Centre, the Melbourne Concert Hall, Theatres Building and the Performing Arts Museum. Melbourne has numerous education institutions, both in the city and in the surrounding areas.

Outside of the capital, the Mornington Peninsula is a popular summer resort for Victorians, as is Phillip Island where you can watch the Penguin Parade. Seal Rocks has Australia’s largest colony of fur seals.

Along the coastline to the west of Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road is one of the most spectacular coastal drives in the world. Nearby, the Grampians National Park stretches for 90 kilometres. A diverse mix of plant and animal life surrounds many Aboriginal rock painting sites.

Geelong is Victoria’s second largest city and it has a range of educational institutions. West of Melbourne, there are institutions at Melton, Sunbury, Ballarat and Warrnambool. To the north of Melbourne, international students attend institutions at Bendigo, Beechworth, Shepparton and Wodonga.

In the high country you’ll find Victoria’s ski fields. There are a whole lot of other activities to enjoy here throughout the year including bushwalking, canoeing, white-water rafting, rock climbing, hang-gliding and mountain bike riding.

The Gippsland region showcases some stunning scenery, and Wilson’s Promontory National Park in the South East Lakes region has great tracks for hiking. Finally, the town of Glenrowan has a historical significance to all Australians. It was here that Australia’s larrikin hero, a bushranger named Ned Kelly, was finally caught. His reported last words are world famous: “Such is life”.

University campuses in Victoria
Australian Catholic University
Central Queensland University (Melbourne International Campus)
Deakin University
James Cook University (Melbourne Campus)
La Trobe University
Monash International
RMIT University
Swinburne University of Technology
University of Ballarat
University of Melbourne
Victoria University

Getting there and getting around
Melbourne has a busy international airport with flights from many countries around the world. Trains and airplanes travel between cities in Victoria. A car ferry runs from Melbourne to Tasmania.

You can travel around Melbourne by bus, train or tram. In regional cities, buses are the most common form of transport.

Find out more
www.visitvictoria.com (tourist information)
www.vic.gov.au(Victorian Government services)
www.heraldsun.news.com.au and www.theage.com.au (Melbourne newspapers)
www.onlinenewspapers.com/australi.htm (links to newspapers around Victoria)
www.citysearch.com.au (nightlife and events)