1. Melbourne
The place to be

2. History
179 years ago, Aboriginal people occupied the land that is now called Melbourne for at least 40,000 years.
Melbourne’s early structure and character were defined during the gold rush of the 1850s, which saw the city’s population triple within a decade.

3.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Melbourne expanded with the development of mass transit train and tram systems.
Melbourne’s
distinctive high
street shopping
strips were
established

4. WWII
After the Second World War, as the rise in private car ownership, investment in road capacity, better access to housing finance and a shift in manufacturing to the outer fringes of the city
led to Melbourne’s
geographic
expansion and
suburbanisation.

5. 1980s -
The city has again undergone a significant growth-driven transformation, centred on a mix of city-centre regeneration and outer-suburban development.
rapid growth in its residential population
Melbourne’s outer suburbs have become some of the fastest-growing municipalities in Australia.

6. TODAY 4.3 million people. 10,000 square kilometres
31 local government areas
three-quarters of all Victorians.
2013 Melbourne had the largest population growth of any Australian city (95,500 people)

7. labour force of 2.2 million people
14 per cent of jobs were located in the CBD, Docklands and Southbank areas.
200 countries
230 languages
130 religious
faiths

9. Assets A productive and vibrant central city with room to grow
A diverse industry base
An educated, flexible and multicultural workforce
Liveable neighbourhoods and suburbs
An integrated and high-capacity transport system

10. An internationally recognised university sector
A clean environment and valuable natural assets
The nation’s sporting, arts and cultural capital

11. Factors Impacting Growth
the soils and their parent materials
Topography
Climate
The topography of the area displays little variation in landscape elevation
Highest rain falls, of up to 1400 mm, are in the Dandenong Ranges.
Four major catchment areas and is well watered.

12. The Yarra is the major stream in the area
Port Phillip Bay
The largest swamp within the Melbourne area was on the eastern side of Port Phillip Bay in Carrum
Open plains attractive for European pastoralists.
Ample both wet and dry open and, montane forests.

13. The abundant natural resources, including a huge diversity of plant and animal communities.
Melbourne's climate remains virtually the same as it would have been before European settlement.
Melbourne's settlement site provided sheltered shipping

14. Pressures CONGESTION AFFORDABILITY ACCESSIBILITY A CHANGING CLIMATE
RURAL ENCROACHMENT