A town to be toasted

Melbourne is one of the world's great convention cities. Its success in hosting
major international conventions and congresses, as well as countless national and local meetings,
is a testament to its superb facilities and services.

Follow this link to conference and convention venues in >> Melbourne City >> Melbourne Suburbs >> Melbourne Airport area.

It doesn't hurt that Melbourne is also Australia's most stylish capital with attractions galore and easy accessibility from other major ports. Melbourne International Airport, through which pass some 17 million people each year, is located 25 kilometres from the city centre and is an easy 30-minute drive via well-connected freeways.

Melbourne wasn't established until relatively late in Australia's history when a consortium of settlers, led by John Batman, travelled across Bass Strait from Van Diemans Land in 1835. Within a few years, the fledgling settlement began to grow on the banks of the Yarra River. In 1851, the colony of Victoria was formally proclaimed.

This coincided with the discovery of gold near Melbourne which saw the colony enter its boom time. This continued unabated until a crushing recession in the early 1890s. The historic legacy remains in Melbourne's public buildings and the grand mansions of the wealthy that withstood the 1960s development boom.

For fans of fine food and good times, there's no going beyond Melbourne. With a population drawing its ethnicity from more than 100 countries, the range of cuisines is truly astounding. Carlton is home to Melbourne's Italian community, while Richmond is renowned for its Greek and Vietnamese eateries. Such cosmopolitan suburbs as St Kilda (especially along Ackland Street), Fitzroy (where Brunswick Street is full of bohemian charm) and South Yarra see life played out in quirky coffee shops, bars and restaurants serving the best of Mod Oz cuisine.

The Southbank development rejuvenated a previously unloved section of the city. While the Victorian Arts Centre long held a position on the eastern bank of the Yarra River, the remainder of the shoreline was largely derelict. This all changed with the development of the exciting new precinct that encompasses upmarket shopping, dining, Melbourne's Crown Casino complex, the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre (MECC), and a range of residential complexes.

Although Melbourne has never been recognised as a beach destination, the proximity of Port Phillip Bay and the ocean beaches of the Mornington Peninsula give locals many water-based leisure options. Dolphin and seal discovery cruises are popular. Craft markets in such places as Red Hill, Rosebud, Sorrento and Frankston are widely patronised. There are in excess of 100 vineyards and 35 cellar doors available for tastings and sales in a region renowned for its chardonnay and pinot noir.

And for the sports minded, there are more than 18 golf courses in the region, enough to keep players occupied for weeks. The newest course, Moonah Links, hosted the Australian Open in 2003.