What do you think of Melbourne & Melbournians?

Question

Just for my own curiosity. As much as I would like to think I am completely open minded, we all have a stereotype in mind when we think of a certain city or place and the people that live there. Just curious to see what the general consensus is regarding melbourne from people who live elsewhere. Also, when stating your opinion, have you actually visited melbs or is your opinion 2nd or 3rd hand.

Cheers :)

Answer 1

I was in Australia for 6 weeks last year and travelled from Sydney upto Cairns then flew down to Melbourne. We were there for Australia Day. It was definitely my favourite city in Australia, laid back, lots of cultural interesting things going on. Easy to get around. It's hard to explain exactly why I liked it so much but I do think the culture had a lot to do with it. I'd love to go back.

Answer 2

Yeah. Melbourne is the best (city) Oz would have to offer. But the most awful drivers, and an old old fashioned road system with all traffic going through the city centre?. People are a bit false especially the inner suburb wannabe trendy geeks and Toorak types. Thing about fake wealth attitude.! if you have $1m in Oz you call yourself a millionaire? but go to UK and you only have £400,000 so suddenly in 24 hrs you ain't a millionaire yeah? So there's a bit of self assumed superiority around the place!
Many very sweet asian people from vietnam and thailand etc.hence very good food and polite service when among these people. Melbourne is good for food all round due to many european and asian immigrants in the catering industry and restaurants etc. Chiko rolls and pies will do for the ozzies.
These Ozzies in melbourne are obsessed with that silly ball game with an egg,no goalkeeper and no sleeves in the shirts. (what? on earth is that ?) which is a long season and badly clogs up the city centre's traffic every weekend ! Why don't they commute? Plenty of trams,which are a great way to get around.
Apart from that farce there is a lot for the sports fan and some great spectacle events.Melbourne has a very large underlying crime and sleazy side to it which exploits vulnerable immigrants. I do wish melbourne woudn't advertise it's brothels on main road billboards for children to see ! The law and immigration also know well it is all there but turn a blind eye due to the Govt reaping revenue,and police get kickbacks cos they are corrupt. (Ask Chopper Read.)
Not a bad ? city really and always plenty to do. It may be australia's most liveable city but no way is it the world's as it calls itself. Also like this very question points out,melburnians seem obsessed with themselves and how they look to others all the time. Insecurity? Quite naive on a world scale.

Answer 3

I'm an Australian who has lived in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane - plus four other cities in Asia and Europe, and now live in London. My belief about Melbourne and Melburnians (also reflected by foreigners I know who've been there) is that they're a fairly amiable, intelligent, stylish and warm bunch of people. There are variations, as with anywhere, but there's a distinct difference between Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane which I found fascinating. On a social basis Sydneysiders were much faster to chat and be friendly with you, but it rarely went further than the odd public gathering despite suggestions of "popping around for a coffee" or "coming over for dinner" - which were always said but never meant when followed up on. By contrast Brisbanites are generally warm and do fabulous barbeques, but once I left none of them have bothered to maintain a friendship and many seemed subconciously envious that I was getting out. They also kept trying to make unnecessary comparisons with Sydney and Melbourne. Melbournians were harder to get to know, but once friendship was established you were included in home gatherings and there was a range of interests (artistic, cultural, sports, etc.) that went beyond the superficiality of Brisbane and Sydney. As a city Melbourne is less obviously attractive, with most foreigners I know saying that when they first arrived they thought it would be boring. After spending a day or two to seek out and get bearings they all agreed it was a richly rewarding place to live or spend time.

Answer 4

What the others said is 100% right. The Melbournias are friendly and warm.

I've been to most of the other capitals -

There are too many tourists in Brisbane

Darwin is too small & and too many thunderstorms

Perth is expensive and some of the people aren't nice (but some of them are!)

Adelaide is boring & like other country town

Sydney is too populated and the people aren't nice like in Melbourne..
And Melbourne is Melbourne. The only bad thing is that it could be too cold & and too hot.

Answer 5

Melbourne has to be the best Australian city! It's not as busy and smog polluted as Sydney, not as tourist-y as Brisbane, 100% more alive than Adelaide (which is really just a country town) and not as slow as Perth.

Having said all that, it has a beautiful mix of all that is good. Good clubs, restaurants, night-life. Lots to see during the day. Very historical, as well as modern. Docklands are beautiful. Something to cater for every taste!

And the people are very friendly! :)

Answer 6

I was born in Tasmania, and have lived in Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Canberra and Sydney. I have also done alot of travelling overseas, and would not live anywhere but Melbourne. It is just so cosmopolitan, but eclectic all the same. So much to do here.

Sport is an enormous industry, and there is always something going on. I consider myself to be Victorian now

Answer 7

I love 'em, but I'm biased because I am one!