Melbourne Travel Guide - History

With this fear in mind, Lieutenant David Collins landed at Port Phillips in 1803. The Lieutenant’s party comprised of convicts and free settlers who immediately began to build homes and start a colony. However, hardly a year later, the Lieutenant received permission to move the colony to Van Diemen’s Land.

It was only in 1835 that the first Europeans settled on the banks of the Yarra River. At this time the area was part of New South Wales and it wasn’t until 1851 that the colony of Victoria was removed from New South Wales. This then became the Australian State of Victoria and in 1901 it was federated as a nation along with the other Australian States.

The well planned town was named after Lord Melbourne and was soon a thriving settlement. Gold was discovered in the region in 1851. Along with the gold discoveries, came the immigrants from all over the world and the town soon began to absorb and blend the different cultures as it fused its own identity and culture.

During Queen Victoria’s reign, Melbourne flourished and several buildings were put up in the architectural style of the time. Today, many of the remaining buildings have become tourist attractions.