Melbourne at a glance
The City of Melbourne’s city centre covers 37.6sq km and has a residential population of around 147,000. Each day, around 771,000 people use the city, and Melbourne hosts over a million international visitors each year.
All of these residents, workers, shoppers and travellers can take a break in one of the around 145,000 cafe or restaurant seats, or walk through some of its 567.8 hectares of parkland.
The entire Melbourne metropolitan area covers 7,694 sq km and has a population of around 5 million (2021 Census).
The People of Melbourne
Melbourne’s population is made up of many groups of people of all ages and from many different cultures. City residents include young professionals, international students and older couples looking to enjoy everything the city has to offer now that the kids have grown up and left home.
Melbourne and government
The City of Melbourne, as a council, oversees Melbourne’s city centre and several inner suburbs. As a capital-city council, it also speaks on behalf of Melbourne in local, national and international forums.
The City of Melbourne works with other local councils and the State Government of Victoria to ensure that Melbourne is one of the safest, healthiest, and cleanest cities in the world. It supports Melbourne’s position as Australia’s pre eminent centre for arts and culture, education, dining and shopping.
Federation Square, The Melbourne Cricket Ground known as the MCG, The Melbourne Aquarium, The Victoria Market, South Melbourne Market and all those wonderful cafes and restaurants are the start of your Central Melbourne experience, whether living in the CBD or a visitor.