The Melbourne Files
Welcome to our archive of Melbourne History articles.
When Did Sunday Trading Start in Victoria?
When did Sunday trading start in Victoria? More recently than you might think, and largely due to one stubborn hardware…
Melbourne’s Significant Trees
Melbourne’s Significant Trees tell the story of the city; from its First Nations roots, to Colonial settlement, and on to…
The View from Flagstaff Hill
Flagstaff Hill has been there from the start of colonial Melbourne: cemetery, signal post, scientific observatory, and lunching spot.
Ada Gunn and The Loungers Club
Underneath Flinders Street Station was once a unique Melbourne institution: a private club for women run by Ada Gunn.
The Largest Ever Crowd at the MCG
In March 1959, US evangelist Billy Graham came to Melbourne and set a record that still stands: the largest ever…
The Lost Blue Lake of Melbourne
The lost blue lake of Melbourne was part of a wetland west of the city, swallowed up by Spencer Street…
The Field Collection
The Field Collection at Melbourne’s Botanic Gardens contains cacti from around the world, a passion project for a local plant…
Jack the Ripper in Melbourne
One of history’s greatest unsolved crimes has a tantalising local connection: was Jack the Ripper in Melbourne?
Camp Murphy: Troops at the MCG
During World War II in Australia, a shortage of military bases led to a creative solution: thousands of troops at…
Who Is Melbourne Named After?
Who is Melbourne named after? Viscount Melbourne: a two-time British Prime Minister and political centrist who was never far from…
Marshalite Clocks and the First Melbourne Traffic Lights
Melbourne’s first traffic lights were manually operated and confusing, the city then turned to a unique signal system: the Marshalite…
The Crystal Ballroom
In 1978, a former residential hotel was transformed into Melbourne’s hottest music venue: welcome to The Crystal Ballroom.