Moving to Melbourne

Expatriates moving to Melbourne find one of Australia's most multicultural lifestyles with nationals from around 140 countries represented in its cosmopolitan mix and one third of its residents having been born overseas.

 

Waves of immigration have led to the establishment of ethnic enclaves such as those of the Italian, Greek and Vietnamese communities. Each has its own character implanted by the community and imbued with its distinct brand of customs, festivities, foods and art. There are three pastimes that stir Melbourne’s inhabitants to great animation. They are sport (particularly Aussie Rules Football), fashion and festivals.

Expatriates in Melbourne enjoy the generous package of lifestyle benefits that Melbourne offers. It has a lower cost of living than many other big cities despite being voted as one of the world’s most liveable metropolises. It is young at heart, with half its population represented by a median age of 35 years and it is also a good-looking city with beautiful historical buildings, cobbled European-style picturesque lanes and equally eye-catching public parks and gardens.

And like any urban hub attracting young professionals, Melbourne thrives on the accoutrements of the good life such as a vibrant café culture and nightlife, a huge selection of shopping malls and eateries as well as art galleries and specialty stores. It is not only a preferred Australian shopping destination, but also the country’s fashion capital with its wealth of high-end boutiques.

 

Melbourne rests a few kilometres inland from Port Phillip Bay, with the main part of the city on the northern bank of the Yarra River. The city is laid out in a large rectangle with a tidy grid of streets. Melbourne's expatriates as a rule, prefer the leafier outlying suburbs with their quiet streets and proximity to schools.