Melbourne

Despite its shaky start, the British settlement at Port Phillip developed into a colonial city that rivalled Sydney for its wealth and cultural influence. The Gold Rush provided the funds to build magnificent buildings and provide all the infrastructure needed to turn a colonial outpost into a great city. In the 20th century, Melbourne became the first city in the southern hemisphere to host an Olympic Games, and today it has a focus on the arts and a commitment to sustainability. Melbourne has a large and diverse population, and it expects to rival Sydney in numbers of people in the near future.