Victoria may be the smallest mainland state, but it is the most densely populated and urbanized. Much of its unprecedented economic growth is attributed to the discovery of gold in the region in 1851, which saw Victoria’s transformation into an important industrial and commercial centre. The state accounts for one-fourth of the nation’s gross domestic product.
Victoria’s economy is centred on service industries. Much of the income being generated is from finance, insurance and property services, while much of its estimated population of 5 million is employed in community, social, and personal services. Manufacturing also remains one of the key industries of the state.
There are a number of tourist attractions in Victoria, many of which can be found in its capital city of Melbourne. Outside of Melbourne, there is The Twelve Apostles, a collection of 70-metre limestone stacks in Port Campbell National Park; the Grampians mountain range and its unique sandstone formations; the fairy penguins of Phillip Island and St Kilda; the limestone Buchan Caves; and the popular Goldfields historic region.
Victoria hosts major sporting events such as the V8 Supercars and Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, Grand Annual Steeplechase, and the Australian International Airshow.
Some of the state’s most popular festivals include the Queenscliff Music Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival, and Bright Autumn Festival.
Melbourne
Melbourne, Victoria’s state capital and the second most populated city in Australia, sits at the mouth of the Yarra River and along the northern and eastern shorelines of Port Phillip.
Known as the Australia’s sporting capital, Melbourne played host to the 1956 Summer Olympics and the 2006 Commonwealth Games. It is also the centre of the country’s live music scene, which has brought forth many of Australia’s popular music artists.
Some popular attractions include Melbourne Zoo, the Melbourne Aquarium, and Eureka Tower, the tallest skyscraper in the Southern Hemisphere.
Increasing prices of real estate in Melbourne has made the city one of the least affordable Australian cities to live in. There is minimal public transport outside the city, so residents who live in this highly urbanized area of low-density housing and suburban sprawl must own cars.