Melbourne is a city that truly captured my heart in a way I never anticipated. Located in the South-East of Australia, capital of the state of Victoria, it was a long way from home back in the UK. Yet the connection I developed to the city whilst living there during my study abroad year is irreplaceable, and has me longing to move back once my degree is completed. 

 

From the age of eleven, my greatest aspiration was to travel to the other side of the world. Originally it was my plan at eighteen, but Covid-19 put a stop to it and I decided to go to University that year instead. Yet this dream persisted, and when presented with the opportunity to study in Australia for my third year, it felt as though everything had aligned. Having such grand preconceptions of what the year would look like, I tried to manage my expectations, but I soon came to realise that the city not only met them, but excelled way beyond. 

 

Melbourne is a blend of charming Victorian architecture and sleek glass skyscrapers, encapsulating a vibrant and spirited atmosphere. It is blessed with beautiful weather, its solid blue backdrop standing strong throughout the extreme Australian heat and bitter winter winds. This results in mesmerizingly vivid sunsets that I watched from my apartment window or, occasionally, from the best sunset spot at St Kilda Beach. Whilst the Australians I met would often say Melbourne’s weather was the worst in the country, I found the range of seasons and frequent thunderstorms to be nostalgic reminders of home. The sun gave me plenty of lovely days to explore and see what the city had to offer. 

 

Melbourne is a blend of charming Victorian architecture and sleek glass skyscrapers, encapsulating a vibrant and spirited atmosphere

 

The centre of the city is symbolised by Flinders Street Station. It is a visually striking part of the city, integral to Melbourne. From Flinders Street you can catch one of the city’s iconic green trams connecting the different suburbs, or take a short walk to one of my favourite buildings: the State Library Victoria. The grand dome paired with long wooden tables and wall-covering bookshelves creates the perfect academic background; I really enjoyed studying and writing essays there. 

 

I explored many interesting suburbs in Melbourne, but my favourite was definitely Fitzroy. Known for its artistic ambience, it had the best spots for thrifting. Fitzroy market was a destination I frequented most weekends, collecting lots of jewelry and unique clothing pieces from independent sellers and businesses. It also had great cafes contributing to Melbourne’s infamous coffee and brunch scene, and you could often find my friends and I wandering the streets with comically large baked goods. However, my favourite brunches could be found down Guilford Lane in the CBD at either Brick Lane or Krimper Cafe which not only offered great pictures of the pretty street they are situated on, but they both ranked highly on mine and my friend’s dedicated avocado toast rankings.

 

There are plenty of lovely food locations throughout the city. I really enjoyed visiting Victoria Market for the Winter and Summer food markets where there would be lots of different food vendors, so you can pair up with your friends and try lots of new things. Melbourne is also renowned for its Greek food, with Stalactites Restaurant being my favourite – I would travel all the way to the other side of the world just for their potatoes. 

 

I really enjoyed visiting Victoria Market for the Winter and Summer food markets where there would be lots of different food vendors, so you can pair up with your friends and try lots of new things

 

Though already briefly mentioned, I want to revisit St Kilda, the best beach in Melbourne. It felt completely separate from the city with its seaside shops and restaurants. Not only is it a famous beach location, but it is also home to the penguins which you can see from the penguin viewing boardwalk, on boat tours or on Phillip Island. My friends and I tended to frequent Williamstown beach more as it was just a 20 minute train ride from where we lived in Footscray. I have fond memories of attending some of my Zoom university classes whilst sunbathing on that beach. 

 

One of my favourite aspects was the nightlife. Full of great bars and clubs, Melbourne comes to life with an energetic aura at night. Workers in Fitzroy was one of my favourites as it was very similar to a grungey British bar, and always provided entertainment on a Monday night. Another top choice was Club W as we would often get $12 dumplings at the BYO restaurant Camy Shanghai Dumpling House before heading there. For bars, HER was great for a rooftop experience and Section 8 was a fun bar with a great atmosphere. 

 

Full of great bars and clubs, Melbourne comes to life with an energetic aura at night

 

Being a film student, I made many different films during my time there, often drawing inspiration from the landscape around me. Melbourne is a bustling hotspot for creativity. There were many interesting art exhibitions, sporting and cultural events whilst I was there. One of the artistic locations I loved the most was the Sun Theatre in Yarraville where I went with my friend to see ‘Challengers’, as it is a very ornate and extravagant cinema from the 1930s. Melbourne is a city of expression and connection and I truly found myself flourishing there. It holds dear memories for me, rooted throughout both the buildings and the people, and I hope to return and see what else it has waiting for me. 

 

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Spending Summer Down Under: Queensland, Australia

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