Interesting Secrets and Little Known Melbourne Facts
As the second most populous city in Australia, Melbourne has a lot to offer tourists and locals alike. Just taking a few hours to walk through the town will have you falling for its beauty and simplicity. But just what do we know about the city of Melbourne?
Melbourne Facts
The city of Melbourne is more than just a livable city. It is also a city that has lived through so many historical events that now, it’s just brimming with secrets. But some secrets are better known than others. From coming close to being called “Batmania” to Vegemite’s origins, we are here to give you a few fun Melbourne facts you probably never knew about the city of Melbourne.
Fox Capital
Some say foxes are cats in a dog’s body. And you can see a lot of these guys in Melbourne. In fact, the city has been dubbed the Fox Capital as there are up to 23 foxes within every kilometer in the metropolitan.
The Story of the Ned Kelly Gang
The world’s first feature-length film entitled The Story of the Ned Kelly Gang was shot in the city of Melbourne in 1906. Isn’t that another interesting Melbourne fact. The movie directed by Charles Tait follows the story of outlaw Ned Kelly and his gang. The film is 60 minutes long, and it was first shown at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Hall on December 26, 1906.
Batmania
Initially, the city was going to be named Batmania, after one of the founding fathers: John Batman. Imagine living in a town with the same name as the Dark Knight. You’d be the envy of your friends, and every comic book enthusiast is going to want to visit the place. Melbourne sure missed out.
Smellbourne
Instead of a cool name like Batmania, Melbourne ended up earning the nickname Smellbourne in 1897 after a typhoid epidemic turned the Yarra River into a cesspool that caused the city to smell terrible. This prompted city officials to construct a sewerage system that transported their wastewater to Werribee, a good 30km from the city.
Foster’s Beer
Foster’s Beer is famous for being Australian. But did you know that it’s not entirely Aussie? Although it is true that Foster’s was first made in Melbourne in 1888, it was done by American brothers: William and Ralph Foster. These days, the beer is manufactured in Manchester and is Britain’s second best-selling beer after Carling.
Great Melbourne Telescope
Back in the 19th century, the Great Melbourne Telescope was considered as one of the largest in its time. In 1944, it was upgraded for modern astronomy and moved to Canberra. But the telescope fell victim to the bushfire of 2003. The fire destroyed the telescope’s modern features and equipment, but astoundingly, 90 percent of the original parts survived almost unscathed. It has since returned to Melbourne.
Kiwi Shoe Polish
William Ramsay and Hamilton McKellan invented the world-famous shoe polish in 1906 in Melbourne. The name was a tribute to William’s wife who was a New Zealand native.
Vegemite
Just about every Aussie love their Vegemite. But did you know that this delicious spread was invented in Melbourne? Dr Cyril P. Callister spent months testing and perfecting Vegemite before coming out with its final formulation in 1922. In fact, Vegemite is produced in the Vegemite factory in Bend, Port Melbourne and nowhere else.
These fun filled Melbourne facts are just the tip of the iceberg! A lot more is waiting here in Melbourne, and all you have to do is book a few weeks off work, plan your trip, and find a reliable car rental in Melbourne to make your journey more comfortable and enjoyable.
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I love these facts. In fact, I like Smellbourne just as much as Batmania. I live close to a city with a similar nickname n Dutch.
So many trivias attached to Melbourne. Did not know that. Like the telescope and the Batmania bit. I think the biggest one was it being the fox capital. And that bit about Kiwi polish and Vegemite was quite interesting too. Nice collection of facts.
I didn’t know that Melbourne had a telescope like that. really interesting. That is so cool that they have a town name Batmania.
Lot’s of fun trivia here that I didn’t know about Melbourne! The Smellbourne story is pretty funny – although it probably wasn’t so funny at the time. I want to visit Australia one day! It’s just so far and so expensive!
Cool research and very interesting post! Really don’t know about Batmania and Smellbourne such a cool fact to read. Also the foxes in every kilometer of the road is really insane, didnt know also that Melbourne is a fox capital. Thanks for the infos!
23 foxes within every kilometer?! That is insane! Never knew this. I never knew about fosters too! These are some really cool unknown facts! 🙂 Thanks for sharing Indrani!
Thank you for sharing all these interesting facts. I have heard about the Vegemite, but haven’t tried it before. I’m interested in seeing how it actually taste the next time I’m in Australia!
Batmania! Hahhaha love it! Better than Smellbourne for sure. So many facts about Melbourne that I did not know and I’ve honestly been dying to visit. This just makes me want to fly over and learn more about the city!
Wow! Thanks for this cool informative post. Such a good read, int know that Melbourne is a fox capital, I really loved reading this post so enjoyable because of the well researched trivia.
haha I love the name Smellbourne! I’ve never visited but I really hope to go to Australia one day and get to see Melbourne myself. Great trivia on the city!
Since I’ve never been to Australia and do not know much about it, all these facts are new to me. The fact about the foxes is particularly fascinating.
Interesting facts that I had no idea about Melbourne! I really would like to go there to see all of the street art. I also heard it is great for vegan food! I’m sure I’ll get there someday.
Wow these are a lot of facts I didnt know. I didn’t know it was fox capital and Smellbourne and Batmania. Wow, these are good things to know— I mean it kept me entertained.
I had no idea it was the fox capital! That’s interesting and new to me! Aussies do love their Vegemite – across the ditch over here in NZ, we love our Marmite. There’s a constant battle as to which one rules overall!
Is it really the fox capital? How fascinating.
I have learnt about Melbourne reading this and I didn’t know Vegemite was from there. I knew Fosters was made in the U.K., but didn’t know it was from Melbourne originally, so the adverts were right!
Ha! How great is this! I loved this list. I can’t believe the bush fire managed to destroy all the stuff we built and not the older parts. I’ve wanted to visit Melbourne for ages, and now I know it’s the only Vegemite factory, I want to go even more!
Have just returned from a couple of days in Melbourne – one of my favorite Aus cities, but didn’t know many of these facts! Like the invention of Fosters (which we call piss in Australia LOL), or Vegemite (OMG my Vegemite :D). Thanks for sharing these cool facts!
Have never been to Ausralia but I do think Batmania would have been such a cool city name! 🙂 Man, everyone is talking about Vegemite and I never tried it. I might get addicted too? I am sure Melbourne must be a fascinating city and I hope to see it one day…if not Australia would be so far away to fly (I am from Austria) 😉
Guess I can now proudly call myself an Aussie for knowing these tidbits. The Batmania part got me cracked up, but it’ll have been great for the tourism industry. And the fox city? I had better pull my boss’s legs for this. She’s from the fox city. Interesting read.
I’ve never been to Austrailia, but love watching programmes about it. Interesting facts, I never knew there were so many foxes in Melbourne!
Oh I love Melbs! It’s such a cool town! i love the shoe polish thing, i had no idea about that!
Good to know! Although I know almost nothing about Melbourne anyway. Batmania would have been a cool name. I have never tried vegemite, although I guess I will have to try it if I ever get there.
I literally knew none of these things! I’m glad to know about the shoe polish. It’s one of those useless trivia items that I love knowing.
Batmania? Wow good this The didn’t go with that but I’m sure Batman would love it…lol. Seriously the mans name was John Batman…haha. I love these facts!!! Regarding Foster’s I also heard that most Aussie don’t like it. Is that true?
I am super fascinated by foxes! So interesting to learn that Melbourne has 23 foxes within every kilometre! Do they approach humans at all? The ones here in Canada are pretty elusive!
Wow didnt know melbourne had so many creative minds. Films, beer, vegemite, boot polish and what not. Melbourne seems to be like a new destination to look forward to.
What an entertaining read. Such fun! I love foxes so I am both surprised and happy to know that there are so many of them in and around Melbourne. I never thought about it, but I certainly didn’t associate foxes with Australia so thanks for sharing this info.
So many fun facts! I particularly like that Batmania was considered as a name. And the foxes! How cute, I’d love to see them on a regular basis.
Ned Kelly and his gang! Now this brings back memories. We were in Melbourne last year and visited the Gaol where I learnt the history of Ned. It was quite interesting and an interesting prison to go round,
Fox capital of the world sounds pretty fantastic. I had a family of foxes living behind my house Whitefish Montana. It’s actually what made my cats become indoor cats, but they were so cute. My ex hubby was a Kiwi but he never liked Vegemite. New hubby doesn’t either…. Something about getting a jar as a kid and taking a huge spoonful. Somethings you just don’t come back from. This was a fun read.
a nice round-up about somewhere I really don’t know at all! I love the idea of foxes being cats in dogs bodies and will save that for another time. And all the tips about Melbourne especially the story about vegemite!
What an intetesting facts! And it is also a fact that Melbourne is one if the awesone and expensive city 🙂
I want to reach that city soon!
Batmania. That would be something. This was really interesting but… do you really think vegemite is delicious?
I never knew of this historical facts about Melbourne’s. 23 foxes per square kilometers! Might be risky to walk alone in the nights at villages around the city! The city is home to Kiwi shoe polish also. I thought it might be from New Zealand. Glad to know that Vegemite and Fosters are also Melbourne’s contrition to the world. First full length feature film was also shot here! Thank you Indarni for writing such an informative article.
Haha, had no idea that someone named Batman founded Melbourne. Thanks for these amazing trivia. I would certain take my camera to click these gorgeous foxes
Interesting facts about Melbourne. I haven’t been to that side of Australia, but would to visit Melbourne one day. Thanks for these amazing facts.
till date, Melbourne, to me, only meant to be a superb cricket ground. After reading this I realised there are so many interesting and funny facts associated with the lovely city.
Melbourne is one of my favourite cities in Australia and it is so nostalgic to read your post. The facts that you shared are so interesting. In spite of several visits, I didn’t know the city was going to be named Batmania, after John Batman.
When I was in the Army we used to use Kiwi to polish our black leather boots (I don’t miss those days!). I had no idea it was Australian! This was a fun post to read!
What a fun post filled with lesser-known facts about Melbourne! Information like this put together gives a whole new dimension to a city, doesn’t it? I never thought of Kiwi Shoe Polish as associated with Melbourne!
That’s just crazy. I never had any idea about any of these facts, and some of them really got me! Batmania! Fosters is made in England?! The fox capital. Such cool information. I can’t wait to make it down there myself.
Haha you’re right, I didn’t know any of these facts!! I like the Batmania fact the best, can you imagine?? Although Smellbourne really doesn’t sound pleasant 😀 I love foxes though, we have them in the UK and they are beautiful animals.
These are all great facts about Melbourne. I had no idea that it was the Fox capital. I vsitied 2 years ago and just fell in love with city
I haven’t been to Australia yet, but have met tons of Aussies who love their Vegemite! I’d love to try it to see what it’s all about. That’s amazing the doctor spent months perfecting it first – he clearly did a good job with how popular it is!
These are very interesting facts! The only one I knew was the story of Need Kelley. I had no idea that it was almost named Batmania! That’s too funny! What a fun, unique post.
Literally cracking up at the nickname Smellbourne lol but that telescope is so huge!! That’s pretty cool! Awesome facts!
Batmania would have been hilarious and who knew about all the foxes?! I’d never think that in city like Melbourne. Is the big telescope still in working order? It would be pretty fun glimpse the stars with it! Am I missing out, by the way? I’ve never tried vegemite.
What, the city was going to be called Batmania? Haha, that would’ve been awesome! I also didn’t know about it being the fox capital. These are some pretty cool facts, thanks for sharing!
These are some cool facts. I never knew there are so many foxes in Melbourne and I will never try vegemite again in my life! 🙂
I love Australia. And really hope someday to visit it! Thanks for this interesting facts! Good read.
Interesting facts. That telescope looks so cool. My kids would love to see it.
These were definitely interesting facts I didn’t know about Melbourne … I hope to visit here someday!
Ahh the Smellbourne name is so unfortunate! I never knew that about vegemite either, thanks for sharing~
Vivian | LIVE IN LOVE
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Now I know a little more about Melbourne. 🙂
Fantastic collection that. Great research on these lesser known things.
Shubham
Quite fascinating facts to know! Only natives can help us know such interesting things. Good read.