Dashing, edgy, sophisticated and delectable — Melbourne has become Australia’s foremost hub for arts, business, culture, education, dining and shopping. Since its transformation from a muddy settlement in 1835 to the capital city of Victoria, Melbourne rightly earned its current title as the world’s most livable city, per The Economist Intelligence Unit’s evaluation in five areas: stability, infrastructure, education, health care and culture/environment. In 2010, the city ranked 14 out of 150 top-performing global metropolises regarding population, income and employment growth by the Global MetroMonitor, a collaboration of the Brookings Institution and London School of Economics and Political Science.

Indeed, this vibrant metropolis seems to have it all — beautiful outdoor areas including parks, gardens and the Yarra River; a charming network of lanes and streets in the city center; 11 funky inner-city suburbs; exquisite architecture including heritage buildings and modern structures; a hip fashion, art and food scene; and a diverse population comprised of 140 different cultures including Indigenous Australians, Europeans, Indians and Asians.

One of the most dramatic changes to Melbourne in recent years is its immense population growth. In 2013, the population for Greater Melbourne was 4.35 million people, a figure up 95,500 from the year before, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. At this rate, experts predict Melbourne will overtake Sydney as Australia’s biggest city in 2053. This growth creates enormous opportunities for business development throughout the city.

Melbourne’s gold rush in the 1850s and 1860s financed the city’s early boom years. Manufacturing and building construction then became the city’s strongest and most profitable industries — until recently. Since early 2000, Melbourne lost 50,000 manufacturing jobs, inspiring the city to capitalize on new and emerging industries including finance, education, health care, the life sciences, logistics, tourism and information communication technology. This fresh focus proved successful and provided more than a quarter of a million jobs in the last 10 years.

To foster continued economic growth, Melbourne emerged as an incubator for startups. In fact, the city earned the nickname “the hatching capital” of Australia due to its solid research and development base and new business assistance. The Melbourne City Council founded Enterprise Melbourne in 2009 to help local and international startups grow and thrive via their business consultations, research assistance and marketing programs. Melbourne’s six research-based universities also contributed to the city’s growth, particularly in the areas of information communication technology and life sciences.

Melbourne Cricket Ground © Arnabmaity | Dreamstime.com

The city’s main financial and political center resides within the Central Business District, a 14-square-mile region where a massive new business and residential center is going up. The area also includes the city’s major green spaces and world-class sports and entertainment venues such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Rod Laver Arena, home to the Australian Open tennis tournament since 1988. Locals take their sports seriously, both as spectators and players. The city hosts dozens of sports and recreational facilities along with numerous initiatives in the works including Active Melbourne, which offers the community a range of physical and wellness programs, activities and events. Melbourne also aims to make the city more bicycle-friendly through its bike share programs and commitment to building more and better bike lanes and routes.

From a leisure standpoint, Melbourne is second to none. In addition to a buzzing art scene, the city has phenomenal food. Locals love their “brekky” (breakfast), and restaurants and cafés serve extensive sweet and savory offerings. Because of the city’s rich ethnic population, terrific Asian, Indian and Mediterranean restaurants also abound. And since Aussies love to have a good time, the city boasts tons of über-cool bars and cafés along with streets lined with offbeat stores and boutiques.

Melbourne’s rapid development offers tremendous business opportunities both in the CBD and inner-city suburbs, each of which has its own personality. For example, Docklands is a lively, evolving waterfront suburb filled with chic restaurants, bars and cafés plus a promenade winding past historical wharves, new marinas and green space. As with the rest of Melbourne, Docklands draws people from all walks of life to soak up all this dynamic city has to offer — whether for business or pleasure. Just remember, when it’s winter in the United States, it’s summer in Australia, and vice versa, so pack accordingly.

Pedestrians and cyclists can cross to the Docklands via the unique Webb Bridge © Robyn Mackenzie | Dreamstime.com

Things to Do in Melbourne

Melbourne’s Aboriginal heritage still thrives in the living culture of southeastern Australia’s indigenous people. Visit the Koorie Heritage Trust — Aboriginal owned and managed — to appreciate their history and culture via exhibitions and tours through the Flagstaff Gardens and along the Yarra River. Melbourne Museum, located in Carlton Gardens adjacent to the Royal Exhibition Building, additionally houses the First Peoples Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, which chronicles the history and current lives of Victoria’s Aboriginal people along with their art.

Not to be missed are Melbourne’s numerous narrow streets and alleys called “laneways,” all bustling with offbeat shops, hole-in-the-wall restaurants and hidden cafés and bars. One of the most popular is Flinders Lane, home of the city’s original rag trade. Today it brims with students, fashionistas and young professionals chilling out over flat white coffees (strong cappuccinos), cocktails and more.

A bustling Melbourne laneway © Lucidwaters | Dreamstime.com

For immersion in the city’s art scene, head to the Southbank precinct, home to Arts Centre Melbourne, various theaters and the National Gallery of Victoria. Melbourne gained fame for its public art, and the city’s unofficial art galleries are the building façades (all approved) throughout the city showcasing cutting-edge graffiti art. Urban Scrawl offers art tours of these colorful public works led by historians. The city also gained fame for its devotion to books and written works. In fact, in 2008 Melbourne was appointed a UNESCO City of Literature, which inspired the founding of The Wheeler Centre, conveniently located in the Central Business District and offering more than 200 lectures and programs annually to the public, mostly gratis.

CHECKING IN WITH KATE ROFFEY

Chief Executive Officer, Committee for Melbourne

What makes Melbourne an ideal destination for business travelers?
Melbourne is easy. We have Australia’s only curfew-free international airport, which means we can get you here when it suits you; and once on the ground, everything you need is in one place. Our Central Business District is a quick 25 minutes in a taxi from the airport and designed around an easy-to-navigate grid system. The CBD is also home to 9,000 city center hotels and an eclectic mix of traditional and modern restaurants, bars and coffee shops. Within a quarter-mile walk to the east of the city center, we have one of the world’s best sporting precincts; a quarter-mile walk to the south lies Australia’s biggest arts and culture precinct; and a quarter-mile by foot to the west is the state-of-the-art Exhibition and Convention Center. For business or pleasure, everything you need is centrally located and easy to reach.

What are the city’s fastest-growing industries?
We are a nimble and technology-savvy city, and those qualities readily underpin our great strength in being innovative and creative when looking for industries that will drive forward our economic prosperity. As a globally competitive and growing city, we will always have strong and well-established industries in areas like health care, education, retail and financial services. But we also have some newly emerging and exciting growth areas, such as wealth creation and wealth management, professional services, international student education, advanced manufacturing in highly specialized areas like carbon fiber and titanium technology, and health and medical research.

What tips can you offer business travelers regarding work and pleasure in Melbourne?
A little bit of forward planning can go a long way. There is never a day in Melbourne when we don’t have major sporting events, theater shows, cultural festivals or live music gigs running, so it is a good idea to make the most of what’s on offer by planning before you get here. Within an easy drive of the CBD we also have some of the world’s best sand belt golf courses, leading international wineries and Aboriginal heritage sites, so there is always plenty to do to mix your business with pleasure.

Melbourne: Just the Facts

Time Zone: GMT +10
Phone Code: Country code: 61 City code: 3
Currency: Australian dollar
Entry/Exit Requirements: U.S. citizens must have a valid passport and secure a visa prior to travel. The Electronic Travel Authority visa is valid for visits up to three months.
Official Language: English
Key Industries: Finance, education, health care, the life sciences, logistics, tourism and information communication technology

Melbourne Info to Go

Melbourne Airport, also known as Tullamarine Airport, will invest more than $1 billion in the next five years to better serve the needs of the 31 million-plus passengers that travel through its doors annually. Located approximately 14 miles from downtown Melbourne, the airport has five on-site rental car companies; taxis; and various bus services including SkyBus, an express 24/7 service from the airport to Melbourne’s city center, departing every 10 minutes ($18 adult one way/$30 round trip).

Where to Stay in Melbourne

The Como Melbourne One of the hottest boutique hotels in Melbourne, this super-stylish 107-room abode, tucked away in the city’s top destination for fashion and shopping, appeals to the chic celebrity set. 630 Chapel St., South Yarra $$$

The Langham, Melbourne This top-rated, 388-room, 5-star hotel sits in tranquil luxury along the Southbank Promenade overlooking the Yarra River, 20 minutes by car from Melbourne Airport. Unwind with a massage at Chuan Spa. 1 Southgate Ave., Southbank $$$

Sheraton Melbourne Hotel Located at the Paris end of Little Collins Street in the arts quarter, this 174-room property is the latest addition to Melbourne’s hotel scene. Kick back at the rooftop Terrace Bar. 27 Little Collins St. $$$

Restaurants in Melbourne

Attica On the razor’s edge of cool, this sleek fine-dining establishment from Chef Ben Shewry showcases local and foraged ingredients in creative, modern displays. Multicourse menus include one for vegetarians. 74 Glen Eira Road, Ripponlea $$$$

Cumulus Inc. From acclaimed restaurant veteran Andrew McConnell, this boisterous eatery satisfies with small, medium and sharing dishes of rustic fare like pig’s head croquettes, mussels with potato chips and slow-roasted lamb shoulder for two. 45 Flinders Lane $$

Vue du Monde Enjoy a view of the world from the 55th-floor dining room and out-of-this world Australian dishes from chef/owner Shannon Bennett. Oenophiles will appreciate the wine-pairing menu option. Level 55, Rialto, 525 Collins St. $$$

Read more about Melbourne’s coffee shops.