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Earlier this year, Time Out crowned Melbourne the number one city for art and culture in Australia – and the sixth best on Earth. Nobody asked me to double-check the claim, but 48 glittering hours in the Victorian capital was all it took for me to understand why (and to turn me into its newest fangirl).
Melbourne's electric arts scene – home to world-class galleries, indie theatre and free pop-up gigs – has always been one of its biggest assets (right up there with its specialty coffee). Within the East End Theatre District alone, you’ll find six of the country’s finest theatres staging premiere seasons and exclusive runs of the world’s biggest productions. Case in point: A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical, which just debuted at the historic Princess Theatre.
I was lucky enough to attend a preview night of the hit Broadway musical, and it was without a doubt one of the most joyful nights I’ve had all year. Starring Broadway's Will Swenson – who reprises his starring role as Neil Diamond with cool charisma and deep vocals – the performance had the audience completely captivated. By the end of the night, the entire room was on its feet, swaying along to ‘Sweet Caroline’.
What sets Melbourne’s culture scene apart from other Australian cities is that its most iconic venues – the Princess Theatre, Regent Theatre, Her Majesty’s Theatre and Comedy Theatre – are all clustered together in the East End. For a weekend getaway, this means you can stay right in the heart of the action and catch mega musicals like A Beautiful Noise, Pretty Woman and SIX within a few walkable blocks.
I used the heritage Lanson Place Parliament Gardens as my base for the weekend, enjoying expansive parks on my doorstep and the city’s arts precinct just a short walk away. No matter when you visit, you can trust that Melbourne will be hosting international blockbusters and world-exclusive exhibitions. Take the spectacular Cartier showcase at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), which is the largest-ever exhibition staged by the brand in Australia. It dazzled me in more ways than just the diamonds on the tiaras.
Now, my favourite part of a night on the town is getting to try new bars and restaurants, and the Theatre District is packed with many of Melbourne’s best. Before the curtain rises, you can kick off the evening at beloved institutions like The European and Longrain, or sample fun fusion favourites like Chin Chin and Supernormal – not to mention the buzzing laneways of nearby Chinatown. Then post-show, get another culture hit at hidden speakeasy Eau De Vie, vinyl-listening lounge Three Horses or multi-level vintage jazz club Paris Cat.
What surprised me most about my 48 hours in Melbourne is how culture is built into the city’s bones. It’s everywhere you look: from the city’s world-class galleries and Victorian-era theatres to the majestic State Library Reading Room, the heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building and the street-art-splattered laneways. These architectural masterpieces lay the foundation for Australia’s cultural capital to flourish – all that's missing now is the main character (you!).
A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical is the perfect excuse to book a trip, with the debut season running at the Princess Theatre through late October.
Melissa Woodley travelled to Melbourne as a guest of Visit Victoria.