Australia is the land down under. It is home to crocodiles, kangaroos, and Fosters bear. Major attractions include The Great Barrier Reef and the Sydney Opera House. But did you know that Australia is also well known for its parks and gardens? If you are lucky enough to find yourself in Australia, spend some time in Melbourne. Take a stroll through a Melbourne park or even the Melbourne botanical gardens. You may be surprised at what you find.
Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia and the state capital of Victoria. Approximately 3.7 million people call Melbourne home. Founded by free settlers in 1835, Melbourne has become a major center for commerce, industry, and cultural activity. Before Melbourne became the major hub it is today, land around the city was set aside for use as parklands and gardens. While some of this land has been developed for public and residential buildings, much of the land still remains. Landscape designers, such as Clement Hodgkinson and William Guilfoyle, helped to beautify the land and this could be in part why Melbourne is considered Australia’s garden city.
This garden city is home to many parks. A park is defined as a bounded area of land set aside for some purpose usually to do with recreation. Some of the most notable parks around the world include Central Park in Manhattan, New York; Hyde Park in London, England; and St. Stephen’s Green in Dublin, Ireland. But is there a notable Melbourne park? Why not visit the Melbourne park, Westgate? Westgate Park is located on the eastern bank of the Yarra River. The park offers fabulous views of the Yarra River in addition to the city skyline. This Melbourne park is also a haven for birds such as ibis, ducks, and pelicans. Another notable Melbourne park is Albert Park. Albert Park, named after Prince Albert, is a sporting and recreational park. Many of Victoria’s events take place here. This Melbourne park is also an important sanctuary for wildlife and vegetation. Sundays in a Melbourne park could provide you with some free entertainment. Some of the parks host concerts and sing alongs during the summer months.
Another place you may want to visit while in Melbourne is the Melbourne botanical gardens. Botanical gardens grow a wide variety of plants categorized and documented for specific scientific purposes. The gardens are also used for research, conservation, display, and education. The Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne are recognized as some of the finest gardens in the world. They are home to over 10,000 species and 50,000 individual plants. Many of the plants are irreplaceable, endangered, or extinct.
While visiting Australia, be sure to check out the Melbourne parks and the Melbourne botanical gardens. See for yourself why Melbourne is considered Australia’s garden city.