North Melbourne

North Melbourne is noted for its Victorian architecture, and the southern end of Errol Street features interesting shops, cafes and food outlets located in historic buildings with wide verandahs. Rubicon, Sosta Cucina and Auction Rooms are all Errol Street characters. The former North Melbourne Town Hall, with its magnificent clock tower, is now a thriving performing arts space, as is the nearby Meat Market in Blackwood Street – both under the banner of Arts House.

Art lovers will also enjoy a visit to Gallerysmith which has a changing exhibition schedule over three gallery spaces.

Celebrate at the Spring Fling
The annual North Melbourne and West Melbourne community celebration, the Spring Fling Festival, happens in late October and involves the local community and all the cafes, restaurants and bars of the area with theatrical and comedy performances, food and wine, local fashion design, antiques, books, and locally-made jewellery.

Queen Victoria Market
On the way to or from North Melbourne, call into the Queen Victoria Market – or Queen Vic – an historic landmark, tourist attraction and institution for Melburnians. Spread over seven hectares with more than 600 individual retailers, it's a true reflection of Melbourne's cosmopolitan makeup. There is everything here from fruit and vegetables to local and imported gourmet foods, fashion and general merchandise. And near the market, in West Melbourne, is St Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Church, the largest Catholic parish church in Melbourne, which houses the first pipe organ in Australia to be classified by the National Trust.

How to get there
By tram: Number 57 from Elizabeth Street to the Queen Victoria Market and Errol Street; or Numbers 19 and 59 from Elizabeth Street to the Queen Victoria Market (about 10-20 minutes).

By train: From Flinders Street to North Melbourne station on the Craigieburn and Upfield lines (about 15 minutes).