Golden Mile Heritage Trail

Walk Melbourne's Golden Mile Heritage Trail and discover the essence of Australia's culture capital. Along the way see majestic architecture and if on a guided tour, hear stories from the guide about the colourful characters of early boom town Melbourne.

The first stop (or the last) is the Immigration Museum, pop in and discover how Melbourne came to be. Next is is Flinders Lane, the site of Fawkner's Hotel, Rutherglen House (1850's), the Grain Store and the York Butter Factory. If you're interested in historical architecture watch out for the Le Meridien Hotel (1890-1), the Winfield Building (1891), The Australian Club (1878), the Queensland Building (1912-13) and Scottish House (1907-8). Continuing on is the Supreme Court, centre of Melbourne's legal community. As you enter Little Collins Street see Normanby Chambers (1883) and Stalbridge Chambers (1891). Turn into Bank Place, the Mitre Tavern has occupied this site since the 1860's.

Nearby is ANZ Gothic Bank, walk through the banking chamber to the adjoining Great Hall ('Cathedral Room') of the former Stock Exchange of Melbourne. The 'hidden dome' at 333 Collins Street is magnificent.

Block Arcade (1892-3) must be the grandest arcade in Australia, and not to be missed. See the 1907 ceiling murals in Chelsea Design, and the very elegant Hopetoun Tearooms. The Royal Arcade (1869) is guarded by the legendary giants, Gog and Magog, who strike the hour. Howey Place once housed part of the famous Book Arcade. With over three million books along its galleries, as well as a fernery, tearoom and monkey house, it became a Melbourne institution. Next is Town Hall Clocktower, Manchester Unity Building and St Paul's Anglican Cathedral (1891).

In the distance is the stepped pyramid of the Shrine of Remembrance (1934) and Charles Summer's 1865 statue commemorating the deaths of Victorian explorers O'Hara - Burke and Wills as they returned from the first overland crossing of Australia. St Michaels Uniting Church rooms, The Melbourne Club, Grosvenor Chambers (1887), The echoes of Gallipoli, Parliament House Old Treasury (1857), the Australia Royal Amphitheatre, Chinatown, and Oakford Gordon Place are all facinating discoveries. In Lonsdale Street is the site of the brothel run by 'Madame Brussels'.

Continue on to see the Comedy Theatre, Cooper's Inn (1853), Lim's Garden, the Mickvah Yisrael Jewish Synagogue (1859), Carlton Gardens Royal Exhibition Building, the stone 'obelisk', the picturesque Westgarth drinking fountain, the bluestone Royal Terrace (1853-8) and the Melbourne Museum.