The cosy suburb of North Melbourne is a historic residential district in the heart of the city, where Victorian-era townhouses line the wide streets and busy cafés have heritage shop fronts. Spend some time strolling along the suburb’s main streets and check out a string of boutique stores and cafés. Admire the heritage architecture of the suburb’s 19th-century municipal buildings and attend one of the local events in this charming community.
Stroll down Victoria Street and Errol Street to experience North Melbourne’s buzzing central junction. Here, wide heritage awnings and a busy tramline will make you feel like you’ve been transported back in time to 19th-century Melbourne. Take a seat at one of the outdoor tables of a bustling café and enjoy a cup of coffee while you watch the trams come and go. In the evening, make the most of North Melbourne’s restaurants and bars, many of which have atmospheric courtyards to the rear of the historic street front.
Check out the magnificent architecture of the North Melbourne Town Hall, completed in1876, and the Metropolitan Meat Market, built in 1874. Both of these heritage-listed buildings are now theatre and arts venues. Check the posters outside of either building to find out what cultural events are occurring during your stay.
More intriguing Victorian-era architecture can be found around the residential streets. Most of these ornate residential townhouses are in the “Boom Style,” so named for the area’s rapid growth during the gold-rush era of the late 1800s.
Visit the Arden Street Oval to find the home of the North Melbourne Football Club, which is a contending team in the Australian Football League. Watch training sessions or head to one of Melbourne’s major sports arenas to watch the team competing in the national league.
North Melbourne is situated directly north from Melbourne’s central business district and is an easy walk from the city centre via the historic Queen Victoria Markets. You can also catch trains, trams and buses to the neighbourhood. Pick from a huge array of accommodation options in the city centre and take a trip through history to North Melbourne.