Top Things to do in Central Business District
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What to do and see in Central Business District, Victoria: The Best Museums
Lovely, laid-back Melbourne has something for everyone: family fare, local and international art, haute boutiques, multicultural dining, Australian and Aboriginal history, spectator sports, and pulsing, swanky nightlife. Cruise on the free City Circle Tram loop to check out unique attractions like the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Healesville Sanctuary, which buzzes with local animal species.
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1. RMIT Gallery
2. Immigration Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,520 reviews
Explore Australia's history and culture. Journey through Melbourn's history and explore stories of people who have migrated from all reaches of the world. From the reasons for making the journey, to the impact on indigenous communities, these stories are sometimes sad, sometimes funny, but always engaging. Located in the Old Customs House in the heart of the city - an easy walk from Flinders St Station or Southern Cross (or catch the free City Circle Tram).
Reviewed By ingenuec - Lee's Summit, United States
Coming from America where we are presently struggling with the subject of immigration this was an enlightening museum. There is definitely room for growth and adding additional information regarding Australian history I believe they are off to a wonderful start. Museum dealt with very difficult topics regarding identity. I congratulate the curators for addressing real issues.
3. Salvation Army Heritage Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17 reviews
This center tracks the Salvation Army's Australian origins, its role in various wars and its little-known, but significant, contributions to Australia's film industry. Tambourines, trumpets and other Army memorabilia are on display.
4. Original & Authentic Aboriginal Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By T5705EOtonyh
The largest collection of hand painted art and artifacts in Australia! Beautiful paintings and a fantastic service with free shipping! This is a must see gallery if you visit Melbourne! It is conveniently located in the heart of Melbourne‘s CBD precinct right next door to Florentino restaurant and within the free tram network. The staff are very helpful and knowledgeable and browsers are welcome. For first timers and collectors alike it is worth a visit!
5. Museum of Chinese Australian History
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 163 reviews
Located in the heart of Melbourne's Chinatown, the Chinese Museum's five floors showcase the heritage and culture of Australia's Chinese community. Our purpose is to operate a museum, to promote and preserve Chinese Culture and history - especially of Australian-Chinese history in Australia.
Reviewed By Leatraveler - Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne's Chinese history is really interesting. The unspoken yellow tax of Australian's history is revealed here. In the heart of China town and free on Chinese New Year.
6. The National Opal Collection
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 53 reviews
The award winning National Opal Collection is amongst Australia's most fascinating attractions, where you will discover the incredible link between opal and the dinosaur. As you enter you are surrounded by dioramas of Australia's outback and then taken through time from the dinosaur age to modern day opal production. Exhibits show how bones of prehistoric creatures can become opalised. Adjoining the museum is the spectacular showroom with Australia's largest range of opals and opal jewellery. Here you can purchase tax-free from a large range of Australian opal products.
Reviewed By LDWegener - Buffalo Grove, United States
Wow, this place is amazing!! If you’re in the market for Opal, this is the place! Hands down the best selection I have personally ever witnessed. The thing I liked the most was the "no pressure" to purchase attitude - it made for a real nice experience, to just go, look around, and get educated on opals. Toped off, with “off the charts” (Monica) service, kindness, and friendliness. Our family experience started out at Lightning Ridge Opal Shop, in search of a boulder ring, for our 21yr old daughter. While we liked Lightning Ridge, and their sales staff, they had a very small selection of set boulder opal rings. Thankfully, they were kind enough to refer us to The National Opal Collection (NOC). For a competitor to make a referral like this, spoke volumes to me. Sarah greeted us at NOC and provided kind and honest assistance, as we compared and contrasted the beautiful (but different) opals in front of us. However, it was Monica, who treated us with care and the most excellent of guidance! She asked us questions to determine what suited our needs best. She also provided Valuable Information on ring sizing of opals, when our daughter fell in love with a ring that didn’t fit the finger she wanted to wear it on! In addition she educated us on finding the right jeweler to set our loose opal purchases back home, since unfortunately, we waited until the last day of our trip to visit NOC - when it should have been our first! Upon landing home (USA) with 2 beautiful loose opal purchases, in addition to a ring, I realized, in our rush to shop, on our last travel day, that I had neglected to ask for the history of our specific opal purchases and request an appraisal for insurance purposes. So, I sent an email to Monica. Monica not only replied timely, but kindly provided us details and appraisals for all our purchases! Even when “all” were not at the AUD value requirement necessary to appraise. We truly appreciated that she didn’t wash her hands of the sale after we left (“the other side of the world”) and was there for us! There needs to be more “Monica’s” in the world, that love what they do, and understand what customer service is all about! Thank you - you, and NOC, are the best! ????
7. The Butterfly Club
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 46 reviews
Reviewed By Coco_CAS - Yarra Valley, Australia
Our visit to The Butterfly Club was courtesy of a gift voucher to see the play, "All that Living," the perfect reflective experience for baby boomers who refuse to abandon the centre stage. The entrance to The Butterfly Club is for brave souls at the end of a graffiti daubed alley. I wondered if I was up for a Soylent Green experience. The interior shabbiness was obscured by moody red lighting, staff who treated you like old friends and a delightful treasure trove of bohemian, kitsch and op shop treasures. We chose refreshments at the bar and took the friendly bar tender's recommendation as even with glasses with could not read the menu in the gorgeous gloom. We regaled on velvet sofas which had seen better days before we plunged into a tiny theatre and were treated to a fine one woman show. All in all, The Butterfly Club was a real theatrical adventure which I highly recommend.
8. Craft Victoria
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Craft Victoria is a national leader in the craft and design sector, promoting a cutting-edge vision of hand-crafted practice in the 21st century. For 50 years Craft Victoria has supported the growth of thousands of makers, nurtured hundreds of small creative businesses and challenged the boundaries of craft practice. Craft has built a vibrant and sustainable contemporary craft and design community by supporting, showcasing and celebrating all craft disciplines. Craft is the only organisation within Victoria which provides curatorial, public program and professional development opportunities for craft practitioners. Craft’s headquarters in Melbourne has become a hub for audiences and makers working across ceramics, furniture, jewellery, textiles, fibre and glass to gather, view, discuss and celebrate works by many of Australia’s most highly regarded craft practitioners.
9. Intone Photography
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
I am a local Melbourne born photographic artist, for the last 18 years I have been Photographing Melbourne and other parts of Australia, as well as Europe and Vietnam. My images are available for purchase, big or small, finished or rolled up in tubes for easy travelling, we post interstate and overseas. My business began in 2001 and am proud to have my artwork hanging across the world.
10. Michaels Camera Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 40 reviews
One of the world's Classic & Antique camera museums. Over 2,500 cameras on display. Free Entry! (As a goodwill tourism gesture by the Michael family to City Of Melbourne).
