Federation Square, Melbourne
Fed Square, as it is called, opened in 2001 after many years of planning and development. Melbourne had been without a public square since its founding in the mid-1800s. The most obvious place to build one was atop the city's large railway yards, a location convenient to the city center and near the Yarra River.
The square has become the hub of cultural events for the city. It hosts over 8 million visitors and 2,000 events every year. Live performances, food festivals, or cinema screenings are all hosted here, plus many other types of entertainment.
The square's top attractions include the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) and the Ian Potter Centre. The Ian Potter Centre is a historical and modern art gallery, a part of the National Gallery of Vicotria (NGV).
One of the most striking things about Fed Square is the architecture of the numerous abstract buildings you'll see. The buildings are of the deconstructivist style. They have angular, cranked geometries. Larger parts of the buildings are separated by glazed gaps representing the traditional and historic laneways found in Melbourne. The vertical "shards" usually hide things like stairs or elevators (lifts). Keep an eye out for the distinctive pinwheel tiling. Numerous laneways hold stairs that go through the square and connect Flinders Street to the Yarra River.
The riverfront area of the square has lots of trees. The area adjacent to the Princes Bridge is Federation Wharf, where you'll find cafes and a marina.
Why You Should Visit:
It is dead center in Melbourne, you can't miss it! Lots of cultural and group activities going on nearly every day.
Tip:
Grab yourself some takeaway food and sit here to soak up the Melbourne atmosphere.
The Fed Square website has a detailed calendar for you to keep an eye on.
The square has become the hub of cultural events for the city. It hosts over 8 million visitors and 2,000 events every year. Live performances, food festivals, or cinema screenings are all hosted here, plus many other types of entertainment.
The square's top attractions include the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) and the Ian Potter Centre. The Ian Potter Centre is a historical and modern art gallery, a part of the National Gallery of Vicotria (NGV).
One of the most striking things about Fed Square is the architecture of the numerous abstract buildings you'll see. The buildings are of the deconstructivist style. They have angular, cranked geometries. Larger parts of the buildings are separated by glazed gaps representing the traditional and historic laneways found in Melbourne. The vertical "shards" usually hide things like stairs or elevators (lifts). Keep an eye out for the distinctive pinwheel tiling. Numerous laneways hold stairs that go through the square and connect Flinders Street to the Yarra River.
The riverfront area of the square has lots of trees. The area adjacent to the Princes Bridge is Federation Wharf, where you'll find cafes and a marina.
Why You Should Visit:
It is dead center in Melbourne, you can't miss it! Lots of cultural and group activities going on nearly every day.
Tip:
Grab yourself some takeaway food and sit here to soak up the Melbourne atmosphere.
The Fed Square website has a detailed calendar for you to keep an eye on.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Melbourne. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Federation Square on Map
Sight Name: Federation Square
Sight Location: Melbourne, Australia (See walking tours in Melbourne)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Melbourne, Australia (See walking tours in Melbourne)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Melbourne, Australia
Create Your Own Walk in Melbourne
Creating your own self-guided walk in Melbourne is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
St. Kilda District Walking Tour
A cosmopolitan seaside suburb of Melbourne overlooking Port Phillip Bay, Saint Kilda District is a charming and culturally rich neighborhood graced with a blend of historical landmarks and contemporary attractions.
One of its prominent sites is the Saint Kilda Town Hall, an imposing municipal building that serves as a hub for various community events and gatherings.
Eildon Mansion, another... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
One of its prominent sites is the Saint Kilda Town Hall, an imposing municipal building that serves as a hub for various community events and gatherings.
Eildon Mansion, another... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Melbourne Food Tour
Relatively small compared to the likes of New York City or London, Melbourne is quite big when it comes to food – standing tall among major international culinary destinations. The influence of multiple waves of immigration from Europe and Southeast Asia has rendered this Australian city's gastronomic landscape insanely varied and opulent.
Indeed, the local food scene caters to a wide... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Indeed, the local food scene caters to a wide... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Historical Buildings Walking Tour
Melbourne's architecture is a rich cocktail of styles ranging from those practiced in the early years of European settlement of Australia to the more modern ones. Among the historical buildings particularly noticeable here are those from the Victorian era, forming an essential part of the city's heritage.
The Old Melbourne Gaol once served as a prison, from 1842 to 1929, and is... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
The Old Melbourne Gaol once served as a prison, from 1842 to 1929, and is... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Laneways and Arcades Walking Tour
With over 40 laneways and arcades found in Melbourne, one can easily traverse a good part of the city's Central Business District through them, without even setting foot on a street. Many of these laneways date back to the Victorian era and are packed to the brim with all sorts of retail establishments and eateries – each with its own distinctive character and charm.
One of the most... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
One of the most... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Melbourne Introduction Walking Tour
Melbourne is the capital and largest city in the Australian state of Victoria. The metro area consists of 31 different towns spread around the bay of Port Philip. Indigenous Australians have lived here for more than 40,000 years. European settlement began in the 1830s when settlers arrived from Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania). The settlement, incorporated in 1837, was named for the British Prime... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Chocolate Indulgence Tour of Melbourne
Melbourne has a reputation for cafés and fine restaurants, and lately a chocolate fever has taken over the city. This tour takes you through the alleyways and arcades of the city center whilst stopping at selected chocolate indulgence points. Take your senses on a unique experience through six of...