Melbourne at a glance
The City of Melbourne’s city centre covers 37.6sq km and has a residential population of around 89,759. Each day, around 771,000 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 567.8 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 7,694 sq km and has a population of around 3.9 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.
Getting around Melbourne – Public Transport
Select an image (Train, Tram, or Bus)
Some Melbourne Statistics for You:
| Statistics | Latest Figure | Past Figure |
|---|---|---|
| City of Melbourne area: |
37.6 km2 | |
| Estimated resident population: |
93,105(p) (2009) | 80,968(f) (2006) |
| Top three estimated resident populations of City of Melbourne by small area: |
Melbourne CBD 18,690 |
Melbourne CBD 15,404 |
| Carlton 14,729 |
Carlton 12,880 |
|
| Southbank 11,036 (2009) |
Southbank 9,941 (2006) |
|
| Residential dwellings: | 49,712 (2009) | 43,775 (2006) |
| Median age: | 28 (2006) | 28.9 (2001) |
| City users per day: | 765,000 (2009) | 771,000 (2008) |
| Late night (6pm – 6am) city users per day: |
305,000 (2008) | 304,000 (2006) |
| International visitors per year: |
1,439,900 (2010) | 1,376,073 (2008) |
| Residents born overseas: |
41.7% (2006) | |
| International higher education student residents: |
13,750 (2008) | 11,650 (2006) |
| Most common language spoken, other than English: |
Mandarin 8.1% (2006) |
|
| Total built area: | 30,570,368 m2 (2008) | 28,488,855 m2 (2006) |
| Total employment (workers): |
413,136 (2008) | 367,034 (2006) |
| Number of establishments (business locations): |
15,284 (2008) | 13,900 (2006) |
| Largest industry by establishments: |
Business Services 2,685(2008) |
Business Services 2,355 (2006) |
| Largest industry by employment: |
Business Services 64,100(2008) |
Business Services 53,616 (2006) |
| Largest industry by floor area: |
Arts and Recreation 5,712,133m2 (2008) |
Arts and Recreation 5,815,269 m2 (2006) |
| Number of cafe/ restaurant/bistro seats: |
145,116 (2008) | 140,173 (2006) |
| Most common occupation of workers: |
Professionals 40.4%(2006) |
|
| Total length of roads: | 338 km (2006) | |
| Total area of parkland: |
567.8 ha (2007) | 566.6 (2005) |
| Tallest building: | Eureka Tower, 3-7 Riverside Quay, Southbank 92 Levels / 300 m |
|
| Oldest building: | Mitre Tavern, 5-9 Bank Place, Melbourne 1837 |
|
| Melbourne Metropolitan area: |
7,693.7 km2 | |
| Estimated resident population: |
3,995,537(p) (2009) | 3,473,015(f) (2006) |
| Residential dwellings: | 1,471,155 (2006) | 1,344,624 (2001) |
| Median age: | 36 (2006) |
Note; ABS Estimated Resident Population: (p) = preliminary; (f) = final.
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.
Federation Square, The Melbourne Cricket Ground known as the MCG, The Melbourne Aquarium, The Victoria Market, South Melbourne Market and all those wonderful cafes and restaurants are the start of your Central Melbourne experience, whether living in the CBD or a visitor.