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It's Melbourne Day week

Great classroom ideas for teachers, and parents at home

What's on Melbourne Day 2014

Learn about Melbourne's first baby, the gold rush, a magic cupcake and more. And did you know about our first cat?
Yes, cat — the Tassie tabby.

If you were our city's Lord Mayor

Paint trams pink? Free parking? Or throw a big Town Hall party with red cordial for all? Teach students about local councils. Ask for policies if they wore the mayoral robes and chains.

Junior Lord Mayor competition winner

Our first baby

Mary Gilbert, the first migrant woman settler, gave birth to a son, the first white child born in Melbourne on 29 December 1835. There is a statue of her, above, in the Fitzroy Gardens' conservatory. And, yes, she did bring the first cat to Melbourne.

Melbourne Day FAQs

Smart phone surprise: magic cupcake

Here's a fun, educational use for smart phones, iPads or tablets in the classroom. Honest! Download a free app and watch our birthday cupcake burst alive on-screen. You have to see it to believe it. Children will love it!

Instructions and how the magic works

City of Melbourne flag download and color in

Why is this flag special?

It can be seen at Enterprize Park, atop Melbourne Town Hall, on the bonnet of the Lord Mayor's official car and a few other places. Learn its symbols' significance. Hold a class flag-raising ceremony.

Download your flag to colour-in

Birthday card and hat to download and colour-in

Birthday card & hat

This year's Melbourne Day birthday card and hat was designed by Amy Barnett, 9, from Our Holy Redeemer Primary School in Surrey Hills.

Birthday card download

Museum Victoria’s Marvellous Melbourne

Learn more about how the city was founded, its early years, the 1850s gold rush, the 1880s boom, the 1956 Olympics, and more in this fabulous mini-site.

Marvellous Melbourne mini-site