Federation Square & Cultural Mile★★
Federation Square is Melbourne's urban living room — a public square opposite Flinders Street Station, which was derided as "ugly" when it opened in 2002 and is now celebrated as a successful piece of modern architecture. The angular, deconstructivist buildings made of sandstone and zinc house galleries, cinemas, and restaurants.
The top attractions at the Square:
- Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia: The national gallery for Australian art — Aboriginal art, colonial art, contemporary Australian works. Free admission! The Aboriginal collection alone is worth a visit.
- ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image): An interactive museum for film, video games, and digital art. Temporary exhibitions and a free permanent exhibition. Australia's answer to the Museum of the Moving Image in New York.
- Koorie Heritage Trust: Culture and history of the Koorie (Aboriginal peoples of Victoria). Free exhibition and tours. Here you learn more about Aboriginal culture than in most other museums.
Opposite is the Flinders Street Station — Melbourne's iconic train station from 1909 with its distinctive yellow facade and dome. "Under the clocks" (under the clocks at the main entrance) has been Melbourne's most popular meeting point for generations.
The Southbank Promenade along the Yarra River offers restaurants, the Melbourne Arts Centre (with its distinctive spire), and views of the skyline. On Sundays, the Southbank Arts & Crafts Market takes place here.