EXPLORE
MELBOURNE
It's time to dig a little
Melbourne is a city you don’t just visit - you get under its skin. It rewards the curious: the ones who wander down hidden laneways, linger over long coffees, and look up at the layers of architecture stacked along every block. It’s a city of contrasts, where historic meets contemporary, sport meets arts, and everyday life plays out in some of the world’s most liveable streets.
For delegates coming to the Lipedema World Congress, Melbourne offers not just a world-class venue, but a rich, walkable urban experience that’s easy to explore before or after sessions.
A city built on layers
Melbourne’s story begins long before European settlement. The land on which the city stands is the traditional Country of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung Peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation, who have cared for this land for tens of thousands of years.
The Yarra River (Birrarung) and its surrounding wetlands were an important meeting place for the five language groups of the Kulin nation.
European settlement began in 1835, when colonists from Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) arrived at Port Phillip.
The township was formally surveyed in 1837 by government surveyor Robert Hoddle, who laid out the now-famous Hoddle Grid: a rectangular street pattern one mile by half a mile, aligned to the Yarra River to improve sunlight, airflow and city flow.
Today, Melbourne's architecture is as widely varied as our population's cultural background. Across from Flinders Street Station, with its grand Edwardian dome and clocks, and St Paul's Cathedral, sits the ultra-modern angular façade of Federation Square—a perfect snapshot of Melbourne’s architectural juxtapositions.
Nearby, 19th-century banks sit beside contemporary towers, and Victorian-era arcades like the Block Arcade open onto cutting-edge cultural spaces.
Laneways, street art, and hidden corners
Melbourne’s laneways are where the city reveals itself. What began as service alleys for deliveries and rubbish removal have been transformed into vibrant cultural spaces, lined with cafes, bars, boutiques—and some of the most celebrated street art in the world.
Hosier Lane, just opposite Federation Square, is Melbourne’s most iconic street art destination. Its cobblestone path and brick walls are covered in ever-changing murals, stencils, and paste-ups, with new works layered over old in a living, breathing outdoor gallery. A short walk away, AC/DC Lane pays tribute to the city’s deep music roots, with rock-themed graffiti and tributes to the legendary Australian band.
Other laneways worth exploring include Rutledge Lane, Union Lane, Duckboard Place, Centre Place, and Croft Alley, each with its own vibe and rotating cast of artworks. The street art here is largely sanctioned by the City of Melbourne, making these lanes legal, permitted art walls rather than illicit graffiti zones.
Want to explore Melbourne's best street art? Here's a link to guide you.
Melbourne infamous weather
No introduction to Melbourne is complete without mentioning the weather. The city is famous for its changeable climate, often described as “four seasons in one day”.
Melbourne has a temperate oceanic climate, with:
- Summer (Dec–Feb): Warm to hot, with average highs around 25–26°C (77–79°F), but occasional heatwaves pushing temperatures above 40°C (104°F).
- Autumn (Mar–May): Mild and often stable, with clear skies and comfortable temperatures (11–20°C / 52–68°F).
- Winter (Jun–Aug): Cool and damp, with average highs of 13–14°C (55–57°F) and frequent light rain.
- Spring (Sep–Nov): Variable and often windy, with temperatures ranging from 10–20°C (50–68°F) and the highest rainfall of the year, especially in October.
The phrase “four seasons in one day” comes from the city’s geography: hot air from the interior can collide with cool fronts from the Southern Ocean, causing rapid temperature swings. A sunny 25°C morning can turn into a 12°C, rainy afternoon within hours—particularly in spring and early summer.
For the congress in November, expect mild to warm days, cool mornings and evenings, and the possibility of sudden changes. Layers, a light jacket, and an umbrella are essential.
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Spring
Melbourne's understated icons
Sydney may have the globally recognisable icons in the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, but Melbourne’s icons are more subtle - and deeply local.
Ask any Melburnian and they’ll tell you about:
- Little Audrey, the Skipping Girl vinegar sign in Abbotsford
- Meeting friends under the clocks at Flinders Street Station
- Making "hook" turns when driving near trams - it's normal for us, but terrifies visitors to the city!
These may not appear on every international postcard, but they’re part of the city’s fabric—quiet, enduring symbols of a place that values character over spectacle.
Little Audrey - the Skipping Girl
The Skipping Girl Sign, colloquially known as Little Audrey, is a historic animated neon sign in the inner Melbourne suburb of Abbotsford, and was possibly the first animated neon sign in Australia when first erected in 1936.
Over the decades, Little Audrey has featured in many songs, artworks and films, in addition to featuring on a series of stamps commissioned by Australia Post.
After changing hands multiple times, the sign was restored by the National Trust in 2009, such was the public interest in ensuring Little Audrey skips on into the future.
Flinders Street Station Clocks
Meeting "under the clocks" at Flinders Street Station is the ultimate local shorthand.
Flinders Street has been the main metropolitan train station for Melbourne for well over 150 years. While the outside façade is famous globally, the row of vintage dial clocks above the main entrance is a hyper-specific meeting tradition passed down through generations.
The 13 analogue clocks showing destination departure times for suburban train lines were once changed manually hundreds of times a day by a station railway officer, but of course, are now automated.
The Hook Turn
Nothing says "Welcome to Melbourne" like driving into the intersection of Flinders and Swanston Streets (along with many other city intersections) and having to pull into the far-left lane in order to turn right.
Designed to keep the middle lane clear for trams, this counter-intuitive traffic manoeuvre is a rite of passage that terrifies visiting drivers until they've completed their first hook.
Melbourne isn’t the only city in the world that uses hook turns, but with 49 intersections throughout the city using the hook turn, they help to reduce tram delays and keep traffic flowing through the city.
Melbourne's "musts"
With the congress based at Crown in Southbank, you’ll be within easy reach of many of Melbourne’s top attractions.
Below are some of the city’s “must sees” and “must dos” for first-time visitors.
Federation Square & Flinders Street Station
- Melbourne’s civic heart, directly opposite the iconic Flinders Street Station.
- Home to ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image), NGV Australia (Ian Potter Centre), and frequent free events and screenings.
- Great starting point for exploring laneways and street art.
Melbourne's Laneways &
Street Art
- Wander Hosier Lane, AC/DC Lane, Rutledge Lane, Union Lane, Centre Place and more.
- Ever-changing murals, stencils, and installations in narrow, cobblestoned alleys.
- Free, open 24/7, and just minutes from Crown.
National Gallery of Victoria
(NGV International)
- Australia’s oldest and most visited art museum, on St Kilda Road.
- Strong international and Australian collections, plus major touring exhibitions.
- Free entry to the permanent collection; special exhibitions may be ticketed.
Royal Botanic Gardens &
Kings Domain
- 38 hectares of gardens, lakes, and rare plant collections along the Yarra.
- Join an Aboriginal Heritage Walk (guided tour focusing on Indigenous plant knowledge and culture) or simply stroll and picnic.
- Free entry; walks and special experiences are ticketed.
Queen Victoria
(Queen Vic) Market
- Historic open-air market operating since 1878, just north of the CBD.
- Fresh produce, gourmet foods, souvenirs, and the famous hot jam doughnuts.
- Closed Mondays and Wednesdays; Friday Summer Night Markets (Nov–Mar) offer street food and live music.
Melbourne Museum & Carlton Gardens
- Natural and cultural history, science, and Indigenous culture in Carlton.
- Adjacent to the UNESCO-listed Royal Exhibition Building and beautiful Carlton Gardens.
- Ideal for a half-day visit; combine with a walk through the gardens.
Yarra River and Southbank Promenade
- Walk or cycle along the river from Crown towards the CBD and Arts Centre.
- Pass public art, riverside bars, and restaurants, with skyline views.
- At night, the illuminated bridges and buildings create a striking scene.
State Library Victoria (Reading Rooms)
- Grand reading rooms, exhibitions, and the iconic La Trobe Reading Room.
- Free entry; often hosts talks, exhibitions, and cultural events.
- A short walk from the CBD end of Swanston Street.
MCG and Australian
Sports Museum
- Take a guided tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, one of the world’s great sporting arenas.
- Explore the Australian Sports Museum inside the MCG, with interactive exhibits on Australian sport.
- Book tours in advance; check opening times around events.
Brighton Beach and the
Bathing Boxes
- Iconic row of colourful beach bathing boxes on Dendy Street, Brighton.
- Easy to reach by tram and train; great for a relaxed stroll and photos.
- Combine with a beach walk or coffee in Brighton or St Kilda.