Category: The Melbourne Files

In the Victorian State election in 1985, something straight out of a bad Hollywood movie went down. A tied election, decided by a lucky dip.

In 1910, Harry Houdini came to Melbourne. He performed magic, flew a plane, and jumped into the Yarra shackled in chains.

Princess Caroline of Brunswick was involved in one of the 18th century’s most notorious scandals. It is why her name is now on one of Melbourne’s best known suburbs.

170 years ago, most people worked 6 or 7 days a week, and about 12 hours each day. But the eight hour day, was coming. And it started right here in Victoria.

In March 1978, armed gunmen took over a Melbourne restaurant: this is the Waiter’s Restaurant Siege.

In December 1921, a shocking crime stunned Melbourne. A hundred years later the question remains: who killed Alma Tirtschke?

In the 1880s, Impressionism was at the cutting edge of the art world. And in Australia, local Impressionists headed to the beach.

The east end of Collins Street is often called, The Paris End of Melbourne. The label can be traced to a long demolished café, and its cosmopolitan owner.

The Princess Theatre is one of Melbourne’s most iconic buildings. It is also home to one of the world’s most famous ghosts.