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The City of Melbourne - A Snapshot

Table of contents

Introducing Melbourne
About Metropolitan Melbourne
About the City of Melbourne
City of Melbourne governance
A state government perspective: Melbourne 2030
City of Melbourne - Quick Facts


Introducing Melbourne

In Melbourne, ideas and inspiration are everywhere. Our cosmopolitan city is a diverse community, a thriving hub a focal point for arts and culture and a great place to work and play. In Melbourne, we’re proud to stand out from the crowd.

Melbourne was established on the banks of the Yarra River in 1835, and the river remains a focal point of our city, While the east and west ends of our city are business-focused, governed by office buildings and boardrooms, it is the centre of our city that defines us. Our heart is exciting, fresh and full of big ideas – while retaining our original charm and style.

About Metropolitan Melbourne

Melbourne is the capital city of Victoria, Australia.

Metropolitan Melbourne has a population of 3.6 million and covers 8,800km2, bordered by the Dandenong Ranges to the east, Port Phillip Bay to the south, and focused around a central business district. Of Victoria’s 79 local government areas, also referred to as municipalities or councils, 31 are located in metropolitan Melbourne, including the City of Melbourne.

Metropolitan Melbourne is Victoria’s major manufacturing, wholesale and retail centre.

About the City of Melbourne

The City of Melbourne muncipality covers 36.5km2 and encompasses metropolitan Melbourne’s central business district and 11 inner city suburbs, including: Melbourne, Port Melbourne, Fishermans Bend, Southbank, South Yarra, East Melbourne, Jolimont, Carlton, Carlton North, North Melbourne, West Melbourne, Parkville, Flemington, Kensington and from 1 July 2007, Docklands.

City of Melbourne governance

The City of Melbourne’s operations are directed by the Melbourne City Council. The council comprises a lord mayor, deputy lord mayor and seven councillors.

Residents and businesses within the municipality vote in two simultaneous elections, with the leadership team election conducted using a preferential voting system, and the councillor election conducted using a proportional representation voting system. The current council was elected for a four-year term in November 2004. The next election will be in November 2008.

The City of Melbourne’s administration includes a chief executive, seven directors, and more than 1,100 staff.

A state government perspective: Melbourne 2030

Melbourne 2030 sets out the Victorian government’s planning vision metropolitan Melbourne. This document makes recommendations on how the city can best accommodate the additional one million people expected to be living in Melbourne by 2030. The plan recommends concentrating new development near existing infrastructure, reducing the need for further urban expansion. Within Melbourne 2030, Melbourne’s central activities district performs a critical capital city role as Victoria’s dominant retail, commercial, cultural, administrative and civic centre.

City of Melbourne - Quick Facts
Area36.5km2
Estimated resident population 20054 (2001 and 1996)165,000(p) persons (50,673 and 39,716)
Residential dwellings 20054 (2001 and 1996)239,520 dwellings (27,060 and 18,215)
Daytime visitors 2006 (2004)5
710,600 (666,400)
Residents aged under 15 years of age (2001)28.8per cent
Residents aged over 60 years of age (2001)28.1per cent
Residents born overseas (2001)2 38per cent
Most common language spoken, other than English (2001)2Mandarin (6per cent)
Total built area 2004 (2002)327,133,600m2 (25,507,200m2)
Total employment (workers) 2004 (2002)3
328,123 persons (322,158)
Number of establishments 2004 (2002)3
12,516 (12,078)
Largest industry by floor area (2004)3Culture and recreation (6,567,618m2)
Largest industry by number of employees (2004)3Property and business Services (60,493)
Most common occupation of workers (2004)3Professionals (38per cent)
Total length of roads6
315km
Total area of parkland 2005 (2004)8566.4ha (561.3ha)
Tallest building7Eureka Tower, 3 to 7 Riverside Quay, Southbank, 92 levels/300m
Oldest building6Mitre Tavern, 5 to 9 Bank Place: 1837
Metropolitan Melbourne area8,806.6km2
Estimated resident population 2004 (2001 and 1996)1
3,600,080(p) persons (3,471,625 and 3,283,278)
Residential dwellings 2001 (1996)21,344,624 dwellings (1,234,301)


Note. (p) = ABS preliminary Estimated Resident Population.
Sources
1. Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2005, Regional Population Growth, Australia: June 2004 (Cat No.3218.0.55.001), Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra;
2. Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2001 Census of Population and Housing: Enumerated Residents Count (Cat No. 2004.0), Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra;
3. Melbourne City Research Branch, City of Melbourne Census of Land Use and Employment (CLUE) 2004, City of Melbourne, Melbourne;
4. Melbourne City Research Branch, 2005, City of Melbourne Housing and Population Estimates by Suburb, 2005, City of Melbourne, Melbourne;
5. Melbourne City Research Branch, 2006, City Users Estimates and Forecasts Model (2004-2020), City of Melbourne, Melbourne; and
6. Pathway (rates) database, 2005 City of Melbourne, Melbourne.
7. 'Eureka Tower', (on-line), 2006 www.eurekatower.com.au, 5 July 2006
8. Finance (rates and valuations)2006, Open Space Register, 2006, City of Melbourne, Melbourne
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