Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

I really wanted to visit a different major city while I was in Australia. Melbourne was the most obvious and recommended choice by my family. All of them had been to Melbourne at one point because a lot of major events happen in Melbourne. Also, it's only about an hour flight from Sydney.

Old Melbourne Gaol
So gaol is pronounced jail and this is an old prison turned museum. It was an active prison between 1842 and 1929, housing some of Australia's most notorious criminals, so I've been told. I wouldn't have recognized any of the names anyway. So one part is the actual jail where it is three levels and you can walk around and some of the jail cells have information in the. There is the courtyard where it is sometimes used to house events. The ticket comes with an experience in the watch house where they fake treat you like a criminal and you get to explore the watch house as well.

State Library Victoria
A huge building housing over 2 million books as well as some historical pieces. Other than the books there are a lot of things to see in the many levels of the library.

RMIT Gallery
I was in the area of the RMIT Univeristy and of course I had to go check out the building that looks like it got slammed with alien slime. Turned out it was a university building and they had a small gallery there too.

Chinese Museum, Chinatown
A museum on Chinese history in regards to Melbourne. A lot of stories about immigration and assimilation of Chinese immigrants into Australian life as well as the continuing legacy of their children who are Chinese-australian citizens.

Her Majesty's Theatre, Princess Theatre
Just some well known old theatres in Melbourne.

St. Patrick's Cathedral
You cannot possibly miss this cathedral. It is huge with spires and bell towers kind of towering over many of the gardens and buildings in the area.

Parliament House
A large Greek architecture inspired building that you cannot possibly miss.  Melbourne was once the capital of Australia when it was still a colony and this building once served as the actual parliament building of the colony, but now it only serves the state of Victoria.

Old Treasury Building Museum
This used to be the building for the Treasury Department for the government of Victoria but it has since been turned into a museum about Melbourne history.

Fitzroy Gardens, Cook's Cottage
Over 64 acres, it is one of the major Victorian era landscaped gardens in Australia. One of the major sights is Cook's cottage, which is the cottage lived in by Captain Cook's parents. Inside gives you a feel of living back then and one room is all about the voyages of Captain Cook.

Still more of Melbourne to go! Too much to fit into one post!