The Melbourne Files
Welcome to our archive of Melbourne History articles.
The Russell Street Bombing
The top part of Russell Street, Melbourne, features one of the city's most stylish buildings. It was also the setting…
Guns n Roses at Calder Park
In 1993, the world’s biggest band came to Melbourne: this is Guns n' Roses at Calder Park, an event that would…
Skipping Girl Vinegar
Standing atop a building in Abbotsford is one of Melbourne’s most iconic symbols; the Skipping Girl Vinegar sign. And for…
The Evan Dando Incident
Evan Dando was an indy rock star with a well-known drug problem, His 2003 meltdown at a gig in Melbourne…
The Forgotten History of The Forum Theatre
It has Moorish turrets, a Greco-Roman interior, and a fake sky, and it was a church and a cinema. This…
The William Ricketts Sanctuary
Quirky statues, lush forest, a labyrinth of stone pathways; The William Ricketts Sanctuary is an artistic legacy unlike any other.
The Builders Arms: The Black Pub of Melbourne
The Builders Arms in Collingwood is a popular local pub. It also played a key role in the history of…
How the Yarra Changed Its Course
The Yarra River is an intrinsic part of Melbourne; but did you know its current course is a man-made construct,…
The Cremorne Pleasure Garden
Victoria’s first amusement park was the 'Cremorne Pleasure Garden’ on the banks of the Yarra, the lifelong dream of an…
The Field Show
The first exhibition at the NGV was a bold choice: strange, cutting edge art from a group of unknown artists. Welcome…
Cole’s Book Arcade
Melbourne was once the home of the world's biggest bookstore, home to more than a million books. Welcome to Cole's…
The Great Trades Hall Robbery
You can still see the bullet holes from the Trades Hall Robbery in 1915, the remnants of a shootout between…