Discover Best Melbourne Accommodation 5 Star In Lively, Cosmopolitan Holiday Destination

Melbourne is the vibrant, cosmopolitan capital of the Australia state of Victoria. This short Melbourne accommodation 5 star article surveys some luxury hotels in Melbourne's city centre. All these hotels: the Windsor, the Langham and Crown Towers are well placed for visitors wishing to experience some of the cultural, artistic and sporting attractions of this great Australian city.

Melbourne, Victoria, is the largest city in that state, and second largest in Australia. It is the state capital of Victoria, and a major commercial centre, but it is also well known as a cultural and sporting location. Melbourne is a cosmopolitan, multi-cultural venue, and each year it hosts some of the world's top sporting events. These include the acclaimed horse race the Melbourne Cup, the Australian Open tennis, the Australian Grand Prix in motor racing, and Test and One Day Cricket Internationals.

The city is also the place where Australia's film and TV industries were founded (the world's first feature length film, about the Ned Kelly Gang was made in Victoria), and that legacy is celebrated at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Federation Square. Another major museum in Melbourne's centre is the National Gallery of Australia.

The city of Melbourne owes much of its growth in the 19th century to the discovery of gold in the state of Victoria. During the Victorian Gold Rush the population increased many times over, and by the end of the century Melbourne was the second most populous city in the British Empire (after London). During that period of great prosperity and commercial activity the Grand Hotel (now the Hotel Windsor) was erected in downtown Melbourne.

Nowadays the Windsor is the only Grand Hotel in Australia still under independent ownership. The Windsor was built in 1883, which makes it older than certain other Grand Hotels (the Savoy (London), the Ritz (Paris), the Waldorf-Astoria (New York). Unfortunately business was not so good in the mid 20th century and by 1970 there was a real danger that this piece of Victorian heritage would be lost. However the state government stepped in and prevented the demolition plans.

The hotel has now been saved, and skillfully renovated and restored to its former grandeur. Guests can dine in the large salon (Parisian) styled dining room, or enjoy drinks in the historic Cricketers Bar, which contains memorabilia from over one hundred years of Australian cricket. At one time the Australian Test team were regular visitors to The Cricketers.

On Southbank Promenade, just over the river from the city centre, one can find the Langham Melbourne hotel. Another elegant hotel, the Langham is equipped with extensive leisure facilities for guests: heated outdoor pool with city views, gymnasium, spa, sauna and fitness centre. The Melba restaurant at the Langham is named after Victorian soprano Dame Nellie, who was born locally. The Melba's cuisine is exciting and varied, using local ingredients from the state of Victoria, and from the Tasman Sea.

Also in Southbank is the Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex, which includes three hotels, one of which is the five star Crown Towers. The Crown Towers has almost 500 luxurious guest rooms and suites, located across 43 floors. The views extend across the Yarra River, the harbour, and Port Philip Bay, and also across the city of Melbourne. The complex in which this hotel is situated has many and varied eating places, and quality boutiques and shops, including big names such as Prada and Versace.