Skyscrapers sit comfortably beside heritage-listed buildings and the most fashionable shops on Melbourne's principal street.
Collins Street brings together many of the elements that make Melbourne so attractive to the visitor, with its urban sophistication, gourmet food, fascinating architecture, and attractive trams.The long-established financial centre of the city is here, reflected in its traditional association with leading names in medicine, business and the media. The street’s high-brow tenants have also influenced the architectural setting of the area, with Victorian design rubbing shoulders easily with art deco buildings and angular postmodern architecture. Melbourne Architours provide knowledgeable guided tours of some of the most attractive buildings in Australia check out their website for information on times and prices.Melbourne Town Hall marks the heart of the city's cultural and public life. This Joseph Reed-designed building was opened in 1870, and other examples of his work can be found at the State Library of Victoria and the Royal Exhibition Building. Melbourne's varied religious history can also be explored nearby, in the Collins Street Baptist Church, the Presbyterian Scots' Church and St. Michael's Uniting Church.Collins Street's “Paris End” is to be found between Swanston and Exhibition streets – this name comes from the luxurious five-star hotels, clothing shops, and private clubs found here. All the top designer names are represented, from Chanel to Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren to Bulgari. If you don’t feel like shopping, you can enjoy a coffee in one of the many local cafés, or for a more indulgent experience, take afternoon tea at the Hopetown Tearooms. Here you'll be served delightful cakes in a wonderfully old-fashioned ambience.There’s a lot to do on this busy street, for both the dedicated traveller and the casual visitor – it has to be part of any visit to the centre of Melbourne. Trams run up and down Collins Street, and are recommended for a visit to the area, as there is only very limited and pricey parking available.
