There are so many things that we Melburnians love about our city. Some are quite obvious, while others are more obscure and loved by just us. Let’s start with the obvious things that Melburnians love about Melbourne, those things that are iconic and unique to our beloved city.
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Some say that sport is a religion in Melbourne and if that is the case then the Melbourne Cricket Ground, MCG or just simply The G, is definitely the cathedral.
The Melbourne Cricket Club was established in 1838 (just three years after Melbourne was first settled!) and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in the world. The club played their first cricket matches at various locations around Melbourne from 1839. Then in 1853, the club moved to Yarra Park (at the time known as Government Paddock) and the first Melbourne Cricket Ground was built in 1854. The MCG has seen many upgrades over its 168-year history and it is currently the largest stadium in the southern hemisphere… and the eleventh largest stadium in the world.
From sport to religion to music, the MCG has hosted some iconic events over the decades. Whether locals love sport or hate it, most will agree that the sight of the stadium and its lofty light towers (the worlds tallest in fact!) are an iconic part of the Melbourne skyline.
Random Fact: The largest ever crowd to attend an event at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was 143,750 people for American evangelist Billy Graham’s “Crusade” on 15 March, 1959.
Flinders Street Station
Australia’s first train line ran from the pier at Port Melbourne to the township of Melbourne (most of which is now more familiar as the 109 tramline). Originally known as Melbourne Terminus, the current Flinders Street Station buildings were completed in 1909. The steps under the clocks beneath the iconic dome have been a meeting point for Melburnians ever since. If you tell a local “I’ll meet you under the clocks/on the steps” they will know exactly where to find you. It is such a popular meeting place, that in the late-1980s heating was installed beneath the stone steps so that our buttocks don’t freeze while we sit waiting for our friends!
Built to accommodate the growing number of railway lines of an ever-growing city, the station was designed by two railway employees, James Fawcett and H. Ashworth. Theirs was the winning design of 17 entries for a competition held in 1899, with first prize claiming a £500 reward.
Tourist or local, we’re probably all guilty of taking a selfie in front of the dome and clocks of the iconic Flinders Street Station.
Random Fact: In 1984, Elvis Costello filmed the music video for “I Wanna Be Loved” inside a photo-booth in the main foyer under the clocks. You’ll find the video on YouTube if don’t believe us, just be sure to watch the video to the very end (or fast forward to the last 30 seconds).
Hook Turns
Invented as a means of keeping tramlines clear of turning cars, Hook Turns are a unique part of life in Melbourne.
Hook turns officially became a part of Victorian traffic regulations in 1954 but were in use long before, at least from the 1930s but probably earlier. Baffling to many locals as well as tourists, when used correctly hook turns are a timesaver for more than just trams. The manoeuvre is utilised when turning right across tram lines in Melbourne’s central business district, where there is rarely room for a dedicated right-turn lane.
The rules are found in many guidebooks and there is even a video you can find online with instructions on how to complete a hook turn. To save you the trouble of looking these up, we’ve compiled some instructions for you.
Step 1: Keep in the left lane at the intersection where you wish to turn right.
Step 2: When the traffic light turns green, you may enter the intersection and wait on the left. Be sure to keep as far left as possible WITHOUT crossing any lines marked for pedestrian use.
Step 3: Your vehicle is now at the head of the queue of traffic waiting to cross the road you are presently on. As such, you must now wait for that traffic light to turn green.
Step 4: When the red light of the road you are entering turns green, you finish your right turn and continue straight.
Pro Tip: Keep an eye on your mirrors as the light changes from amber to red. Many vehicles, especially trams and cyclists, will run a red light and you don’t want to t-bone them! By keeping an eye on the traffic behind you in your mirror, you are much less likely to hit another vehicle as you finish your turn. A look to your right as you’re turning will also help avoid a collision.
Sadly, the hook turn is not a compulsory checklist item in the VicRoads Learner Drivers Logbook. As such, many Melburnians don’t know how to complete a hook turn. Some know how but are terrified of doing it wrong. Those locals join the tourists in making left turns around a block in order to avoid a hook turn. Lol.
Random Fact: Many folks believe that Melbourne is the only place in the world where you will find a Hook Turn. In actual fact they are used in several countries around the world, although they are often given a different name. However, it is probably safe to say that the manoeuvre was invented in Australia.
West Gate Bridge
The West Gate Bridge is a steel box girder, cable-stayed bridge which was opened in November 1978. Its 10 lanes carry in excess of 200,000 vehicles per day making it one of the busiest corridors in the country.
Two years into its construction, on 15 October 1970, a 112-metre section fell to the ground and water below. 35 construction workers were killed and a further 18 were injured in the collapse. To this day, the event remains as Australia’s worst industrial accident. A Royal Commission into the collapse concluded on 14 July 1971 and attributed the catastrophe to two main causes; the design and the unusual construction method used.
Monash University obtained six of the twisted girders retrieved from the collapse site. The girders sit outside their Engineering Building as a constant reminder for their engineering students about the consequences of errors, which in this case were fatal.
Sadly, the bridge spent some time with the nickname Suicide Bridge, with an average of one suicide every three weeks. Ten years ago, work was completed on the installation of metal mesh barriers which thankfully now prevent such tragedies.
Despite its heartbreaking past, the West Gate Bridge is an iconic and unique looking bridge. Given the mostly flat terrain of Melbourne, and the height of the bridge, it is visible from much of suburban Melbourne. As such, it has become a much-loved and iconic feature of our landscape.
Random Fact: Twice as long as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and 9 metres higher, the Westgate Bridge is Australia’s fifth longest bridge at 2,582 metres. Melbourne is also home to Australia’s longest bridge, the Bolte Bridge, which is 5 kilometres long!
Arts Centre Spire
While we’re on the topic of unique skyline features that Sydneysiders love to brag about… the Arts Centre is to Melbourne what the Opera House is to Sydney – a heart-warming sight that is instantly recognisable to locals and visitors alike.
Our beloved spire first rose in 1984 and was originally built to a height of 115 metres. Reconstruction completed in January 1996 saw it elevated to 162 metres which is topped with a 10-metre mast. The reconstruction also included a network of dramatic lighting which ensures the spire stands out at night-time too. The design of the spire was planned to simulate the effect of the flowing folds of a ballerina’s tutu.
Beneath the spire is Arts Centre Melbourne, which is Australia’s largest AND busiest performing arts centre. A typical year sees over 3 million visitors through the doors to visit the encompassed Theatres building and neighbouring Hamer Hall.
Random Fact: Arts Centre Melbourne first opened in 1984. In 1922, a 16-year-old boy performed the part of a boy scout in a play at the Playhouse Theatre. That boy grew up to be an architect, the same architect who designed the Arts Centre and its now-famous spire… The same Arts Centre whose stage door faces the Playhouse Theatre. The story of Sir Roy Grounds, the architect, went full circle.