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Even though the city is known by its European name 'Melbourne' it was established on the Kulin Nation. For many this place always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

For the Wurundjeri, Boonerwrung, Taungurong, Djajawurrung and the Wathaurung which constitute the Kulin Nation, the location of the city has always been significant meeting place and now, in it's modern guise, it continues to attract local and international visitors for events of social, educational, sporting and cultural importance. Source

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Melbourne supports a large number of DJs with a internationally recognised club and festival scene. Here's a video of local boy Tornado Wallace at the Sugar Mountain one day festival (which is mostly dance music)

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Tornado Wallace Boiler Room Sugar Mountain Melbourne DJ Set

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I don't know why but for some reason bagels are very trendy in Melbourne. That's good for me because I love bagels (my old city, London has a large Jewish population with many good bagel bakeries)! My favourite place for a bagel is Mile End Bagels in Fitzroy.

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My Favourite Melbourne Beaches: Williamstown

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My Favourite Melbourne Beaches: Williamstown

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Williamstown (or 'Willy Beach') may not be Melbourne's prettiest beach but it is my local beach. I can leave my apartment and be in the water in 30 minutes. When I was living in Yarraville I could ride there after work for a quick dip. For someone who grew up in England, this is quite a novelty!

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Sometimes visitors to Australia ask 'what is Australian food?' and whilst Australians have their own version of many international cuisines, it's important to remember that people have lived, cooked and eaten on this land for over 65,000 years! That means there are lots of native plants and animals to eat. You can sample some of these albeit in a modern style, at Charcoal Lane restaurant, which is staffed and run by Indigenous Australians. It's quite fancy but not too expensive, perfect!

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The Central Business District (CBD) of Melbourne is laid out in a grid. The focus points are the centrally located Flinders Street Station and Federation Square, on the north side of the Yarra River, Parliament on the east, Docklands to the west, Victoria Market in the north west and The State Library in the central north. The CBD area is relatively small and it's easy to walk around, or you can take a tram!

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Melbourne is Victoria's capital, and home to nearly 5 million citizens. Many of the inhabitants of Melbourne live in the suburbs along the Yarra River, spreading out around Port Phillip Bay and reaching as far east as Mount Dandenong.

Melbourne was established on the Yarra River in 1835 after an failed attempt in 1803 to create a settlement inside the Port Phillip Bay heads close to Sorrento.

The Port Phillip District achieved independence from New South Wales in 1850. Melbourne's economy rose rapidly in the 1850's due to the gold rush in the area to the north.
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Art in Melbourne: The Buxton Contemporary

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Art in Melbourne: The Buxton Contemporary

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Melbourne has many contemporary art galleries but my favourite is the relatively new Buxton Contemporary gallery. It's a smallish space but the exhibitions (which change a few times a year) are well laid out. They usually highlight a single artist in each exhibition.

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Wurundjeri people on Merri Creek, Melbourne

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Wurundjeri people on Merri Creek, Melbourne

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The Merri Creek passes through the suburb of Kensington in North West Melbourne, where I live. Here is a (European) painting of indigenous Australians fishing on Merri Creek. Source

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The Koorie Heritage Trust focuses on contemporary Indigenous art. It is a good place to go and get educated about Aboriginal culture, past, present and future! My friend Kate, an indigenous artist from Victoria has had a show there and the NGV ended up buying some of her work to display. Amazing!

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The popularity of basketball was waxed and waned in Australia but it is currently on the rise again. Many teams around the country are now enjoying record crowds. My team is Melbourne United. Here's a picture of Shawn Long in full BEAST MODE!

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Melbourne is in Victoria in the southeastern area of mainland Australia.

Melbourne stretches along the the paths of various rivers flowing from the bay and the Yarra, extending in all directions and reaching nearby mountains and valleys

Melbourne's is also a beachside city with many popular beaches, especially towards the east of the city. However the nearest surfing waters are around past the western side of the bay, including the icon Bells beach

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My Favourite Melbourne Beaches: Black Rock

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My Favourite Melbourne Beaches: Black Rock

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This is Half Moon Bay at Black Rock, it can get busy but it's just far enough away from St Kilda that it doesn't attract big groups of teenagers, haha!

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Melbourne is a hotbed of indie rock music. The number of venues, places to practice and small record labels helps to support a diverse community of rock, punk, indie and pop bands. When I moved to Melbourne I looked up all the small venues and bands and started exploring. Here's a video by local band Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, who I have seen in many small venues but they now tour internationally!

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Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - French Press [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

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There are two NGV galleries: the international and the Ian Potter, which only displays art from Australia, with a specific focus on Victoria, of course! This gallery has opened my eyes to some of the amazing art produced in this country

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Elwood is really close to St. Kilda but it is more of a family-orientated beach with good facilities, a cafe/restaurant and a pier. Small children should be careful because there's a big drop-off a few metres into the water!

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Here's a picture of the old Western Bulldogs' mascot, Sid another reason to support this team! Unfortunately Sid died recently but his heir is a new Bulldog called Caesar, who is just as cute. Hail Caesar!

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Half of the 18 Australian Football League (AFL or 'footie) teams play in Melbourne. My team is The Western Bulldogs who are based in Footscray. My partner and I moved to Melbourne in August 2016 when the Bulldogs had just scraped into the play offs. We lived in Yarraville, and my wife works in Footscray so we ended up supporting the Bulldogs. They went on to win the Grand Final in 2016 and surprise everyone! Here's a picture of that final: