Located amongst some of Melbourne's most beautiful gardens sits Government House, the official…read moreresidence of the Governor of Victoria. It is an incredibly peaceful place and it's luscious surroundings complement the grand architecture. There are often functions and events held at Government House as it has many private rooms and reception areas. If you are not lucky enough to attend one of these grand events there is one day a year that you may visit the house and wander through its amazing grounds. This day is Australia Day, on January 26th each year Government House is open to the public. Visitors are invited to picnic on the lawns and musicians perform for your entertainment throughout the day. The entry is free and there is also a selection of refreshments available for purchase.

Prahran Town hall is an excellent space that most recently been used for big brand clearance sales…read more The space is large and vendors are able to show case their items clearly for the buyer. Not only bog brands have had sales.the space is used for boutique community markets too. Its Prahran Landmark on Chapel street. Such a lovely building and location.

The Old Treasury! This place is money. This is a museum,…read morelocated in the old treasury building in downtown Melbourne. It's dedicated to the gold rush that kicked off the expansion of the city and founding of Victoria as a state in Australia, out from direct control of Sydney. The museum is located in the old offices and vaults of the Old Treasury Building. The treasury has since been moved to an ostensibly larger and more modern location. The ground floor has a bunch of exhibits on what it was like to be a gold miner back in the Frontier days. Miners could get a license to prospect for gold for a few months at a time, but would get upset and fight the local authorities who tried to enforce the licensing. They have a replica of the largest gold nugget ever found in Australia, it's huge, and they only found it under a few centimeters of dirt. The basement where the vaults are located are made into exhibit rooms that show pictures of the expansion of Melbourne throughout history, and a replica of how much gold Victoria produced, it's a lot. The staff was friendly, but the tour was solely self-guided. They had an elevator to make the basement vaults accessible. There was plenty of seating throughout the museum as well. The best part of the museum was that it was free! It's completely no-charge. They even gave me a replica gold mining license as a souvenir!

If your looking for something to admire & appreciate in Melbourne's suburb of St Kilda that doesn't…read morehave tourist or seedy backpacker written all over it then The Gallery is great alternative.Its also in great proximity to neighouring cafes & restaurants and its location is just inside the main entrance of the St Kilda Town Hall. The Gallery is an exhibition or art space that presents monthly exhibitions which encourage an appreciation for arts and culture, and are of particular relevance to the St Kilda area and its community.These works are sourced from the Port Phillip Bay collection and are varied between group artist, individulas and private submissions. The Gallery is a versatile space with the capacity to present a range of visual arts practice including painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, photography, textiles, media and installation works.

Green and majestic garden of the royal line! Breezy and peaceful here!…read more I can be here for a week as a retreat! They have a cafe, plenty of park scenes to take in, gardening green house and more! Lovely gardens and I couldn't get enough!

Beautiful, expansive park grounds, more like a collection of landscaped parks than pristinely…read moremanicured gardens. So many gardens and walks to visit, you can easily spend an entire afternoon exploring the paths or simply bring a book and blanket to enjoy the sun. Signage for all the paths and landmarks are clear and abundant. The Ornamental Lake is massive and offers a lovely stroll, the floating islands are pretty Don't miss Guilfoyle's Volcano at the south end of the Gardens, which is well-kept and tranquil.

There is always something happening in Melbourne's City Square. This time when I was there it was…read moreOccupy Melbourne protesters, an orthodox Jew with watching over the palm leaf covered tent for the feast of the tabernacle and a large sculpture of a black baby demon from the Melbourne Festival. There was also the regular protest here from Falung Gong about the Chinese government's treatment of their members, they are almost always there. A month ago there was a huge pavilion for Melbourne's Fashion Week. Soon it will be filled with Melbourne's Christmas Tree and Santa's Mail Box. The sculptures are always there, the monument to Burke and Wills along with other recent quirky statues. Although a few years ago the dog, Larry La Trobe, was stolen one night, the current one is a new cast from the same mould. Another permanent feature of the square is the John Mockridge Fountain, although that was turned off during the drought. And there are also always people in the cafés around the square. When the square is not occupied with something happening and the weather is fine I enjoy just sitting here. There is plenty of room to sit and enjoy Melbourne.

City Square is a funny little pocket of the city that shows a bit of the eclectic side of…read moreMelbourne. During event times, it's fantastic. This space is brought to life during major events like Comedy Festival, Melbourne Spring Fashion Week, and Christmas time - providing a central hub for free shows, displays and the city's Christmas Tree. There's a little patch of green space, plus a line of vendors to sit down and grab a bite or a drink if you need a break from shopping nearby. When it's not occupied by events, it seems to be the preferred place for protesters, annoying people with flyers, and a rather terrifying busker that likes to shriek at people waiting for their tram while he plays with marionette puppets. I once escorted an out of town friend to her tram late in the evening while he was there and we decided to stay with her until she was in the clear. Provided there's no one loitering around ready to harass you with puppets or political agendas, it's worth dropping by to check out what's happening or put up your feet near the fountains.

Absolutely sign up for a guided tour to view this building. You start the tour at the museum next…read moredoor and then walk over to the Royal Exhibition Building. You get to walk in and take as many pics as you'd like. Then, you go down stairs into the basement. And then, on the way back you go up to the rooftop. The rooftop has great views of the city and surrounding areas. I took a ton of pics up there and we had a great time. After that, you'll walk back down to the 2nd floor and take more pics inside. I can't believe how much original stuff is still here. Great way to spend an hour.

Beautiful Heritage listed building that ins now over 140 years old. Great for photos. The…read moreMelbourne Museum is nearby, and there are many excellent cafes and restaurants just short walk away, Garry Image by Aspect Property Photography https://www.aspectpro.com.au/

If you ever get the chance to visit the CitiPower/Powercor Russell Place 'RP' substation, usually…read morethrough Open House Melbourne or other private event, I highly recommend it. It is an opportunity to see a live substation in such a historical site. The site was first commissioned in 1889 as DC station and contains some impressive Transformers. A highlight being the Mercury Arc Rectifier Room. It's amazing what is behind those secret doors with CitiPower/Powercor signs: 'DANGER Keep out - High Voltage Substation'. Who knows what is else is underneath our feet as we walk around this wondrous city of Melbourne.