The Moomba festival also has a lot of events on the river. I love the birdman competition where they try to see who can fly the furthest after jumping off a bridge. Its very funny.

TRAMS

Melbourne loves its electric trams. It is the only city in Australia which still has them as part of its public transport system. We paint some of them with interesting designs and motifs. There is even a tram restaurant where you can dine while trundling past interesting city sites. Trams have right of way on our roads and also make us do unusual right hand turns at city intersections.

ARTS CENTRE

The Arts Centre is a short walk across Princes Bridge on St Kilda Road and is now a part of the larger Southgate entertainment complex.

It consists of the:

• National Gallery of Victoria with its large collection of works by local and overseas artists.
• Melbourne Concert Hall which can seat 2600 people and has fantastic acoustics.
• State Theaters home of the Australian Ballet and Opera Companies.

The Art Centre's lattice work spire glows a light purple colour at night and can be seen from miles around.

The water wall at the museum is very popular with young kids.

BOTANICAL GARDENS

• Melbourne has many public parks and gardens within walking distance of the city centre: Botanical Gardens was created in the English landscape tradition and extends for 36 hectares along the Yarra River.
• Flagstaff Gardens the city's first public gardens.
• Fitzroy Gardens has Captain Cooks Cottage, the Fairy Tree carved with tiny figures and a model Tudor village.
• Treasury Gardens is close to the state government offices.
• Carlton Gardens where the Exhibition Buildings are situated.

Kings Domain contains the Shrine of Remembrance, La Trobe's Cottage and the Myer Music Bowl

GOVERNMENT HOUSE

Government House is the official residence of the Governor of Victoria. It is located in the precincts of the Botanical Gardens. This is where the Queen of England stays when she visits Melbourne.

It is said to be the grandest house in Victoria (some say even all of Australia) It was built during the gold rush when Melbourne was flush with money and was intent on outdoing everyone else.

LUNA PARK

Luna Park has lots of entertainment for kids and adults alike. It is located in St Kilda not far from the city.

WESTGATE BRIDGE

The Westgate Bridge is the longest bridge in Australia. It is over 2.6 kms long and soars over the Yarra River and the harbour. It offers a panoramic view of the harbour and the city.

This is a view of Melbourne taken from across the bay at Williamstown. Yes these Black Swans really do live there.

HISTORY OF MELBOURNE

Melbourne was founded in 1835 by John Batman and a group of businessmen who bought land from the local Aborigines for some trinkets.

It was named, in 1837, after the British Prime Minister at the time: Lord Melbourne.

Sydney

THE CITY

Sydney is Australia's oldest and largest city. About 3.8 million people live in the greater Sydney area. The defining symbols of Sydney are its Opera House and "coat hanger bridge".

Sydney is the commercial capital of Australia.

The people of Sydney came from all over the world.

OPERA HOUSE

The Opera House, situated at Bennelong Point, is an absolutely exquisite building. Its roof-line is meant to symbolise the bellowing "sails" of sailing ships of a bygone era and the spinnakers of the racing yachts that ply the harbour today.

The Sydney Opera House:

• Took 14 years to build and cost $102,000,0000 when completed in 1973.
• Was designed by the Danish architect Jorn Utzon.
• Covers 1.8 hectares (4.5 acres).
• Is 185 metres (611 feet) long, 120 metres (380 feet) wide and the tip of its highest arch is 67 metres (221 feet) above sea level.
• Roofs are made up of 2,194 pre-cast concert sections held together by 350 kilometres (217 miles) of steel cable.
• Roofs are covered with over 1,056,000 tiles.
• Hosts over 3000 events each year with audiences of around 2 million people.
• Has nearly 200,000 visitors on guided tours each year.

THE HARBOUR BRIDGE