History · Melbourne · Australia
7 historic sites to see in Melbourne
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Donaldytong, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Melbourne Cricket Ground, Queen Victoria Market and Shrine of Remembrance. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 10–14 hours across 4 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 10–14 hours
- Areas
- Richmond, Melbourne CBD and Kings Domain
Historic sites in Melbourne
Landmark · Richmond
1.Melbourne Cricket Ground
On non-event days, guided tours visit the dressing rooms and the members' pavilion, and the Australian Sports Museum is inside the stadium.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- After dark
Market · Melbourne CBD
2.Queen Victoria Market
It is the place to try hot jam doughnuts from the van that has sold them since the 1950s and to stock up for a picnic.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
- History
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Historic site · Kings Domain
3.Shrine of Remembrance
A shaft of light falls on the Stone of Remembrance at 11am on Remembrance Day, a moment recreated with mirrors at regular intervals for visitors, and galleries below tell the stories of Australians at war. Entry is free.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Views
- Architecture
Museum · Carlton
4.Melbourne Museum and Royal Exhibition Building
Across the forecourt, the 1880 Royal Exhibition Building is one of the few surviving 19th-century great exhibition halls and is UNESCO World Heritage-listed.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
- Architecture
- Nature
Architecture · Melbourne CBD
5.State Library Victoria
Free exhibitions include Ned Kelly's armour, and the front lawn on Swanston Street is a popular lunch spot.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
- Photo spot
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Historic site · Melbourne CBD
6.Old Melbourne Gaol
You can walk the tiers of cells, see death masks of executed prisoners and take part in a mock arrest in the neighbouring City Watch House.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
Street · Melbourne CBD
7.Chinatown
Red archways frame a strip of dumpling houses, noodle bars and dessert shops, and the Chinese Museum in Cohen Place tells the story of Chinese migration to Australia.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- History
- After dark
- Free
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 2–3 hours |
| Melbourne CBD | Queen Victoria Market, State Library Victoria, Old Melbourne Gaol and Chinatown | 1–2 hours + 1 hour + 1.5 hours + 1–2 hours |
| Kings Domain | Shrine of Remembrance | 1 hour |
| Carlton | Melbourne Museum and Royal Exhibition Building | 2–3 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 4 free, 1 low cost, 2 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Melbourne Cricket Ground; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Richmond and Melbourne CBD): Melbourne Cricket Ground → Queen Victoria Market, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Melbourne CBD): State Library Victoria → Old Melbourne Gaol → Chinatown, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Kings Domain and Carlton): Shrine of Remembrance → Melbourne Museum and Royal Exhibition Building, at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- May: highs of 17°C (63°F), about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cool, crisp and often grey, with autumn leaves in the Fitzroy Gardens; a good month for galleries, cafés and the footy.
- June: highs of 14°C (57°F), about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds. Short, cool days and frequent drizzle, but this is when Melbourne's bars, restaurants and indoor culture are at their best.
- July: highs of 14°C (57°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. The coldest month, with chilly mornings and grey skies; the alpine ski resorts a few hours north-east are open.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Melbourne CBD — Laneway cafés, Victorian arcades and the free tram zone on the Hoddle Grid
- Carlton — Italian cafés on Lygon Street, the university and UNESCO-listed gardens
- Richmond — Pubs, Vietnamese food on Victoria Street and the walk to the MCG
More of Melbourne
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Melbourne?
Melbourne Cricket Ground. The MCG holds about 100,000 people and hosts AFL football through the winter, the AFL Grand Final in September and the Boxing Day Test match in summer.
+Which of these are free in Melbourne?
Queen Victoria Market, Shrine of Remembrance, State Library Victoria and Chinatown.