Melbourne's patronage of the arts is renowned, and is embodied on the banks of the Yarra in the magnificent Victorian Arts Centre, the National Gallery of Victoria and the impressive Concert Hall.

The National Gallery of Victoria was opened in 1968 and developed into one of the city's prime attractions. This magnificent building has the largest stained glass ceiling in the world, and houses an extensive permanent collection of works; these works include a range of European and Asian artworks, as well as an extensive collection of Australian works dating back to the early 1800s. The Gallery also features many exciting seasonal exhibits, and is a venue for large international exhibits.

The Melbourne Concert Hall is another of Melbourne's impressive arts buildings, which enjoys a busy program of concerts, recitals and performances by artists of all styles.

The centrepiece of Melbourne is the 2000 seat State Theatre. Completed in 1984, the building has a magnificent 115m open lattice spire which rises above the theatre and has become a landmark symbol of Melbourne. The Theatre has a stunning reception area, and boasts facilities for full scale Opera and Ballet productions. A playhouse, theatrettes, restaurants and a Performing Arts Museum are also housed within the Theatre.

The Museum of Victoria dates back to 1854 with the establishment of the Museum of Natural History. During the years, the original collections were expanded and combined with others to include scientific, technical and anthropological exhibits. Today this spectacular building has a collection of over 12 million items, though only 2% of the items are on permanent display; others are used in a range of temporary exhibitions, educational programs and research. The Museum also houses interactive exhibits and a gallery devoted to explaining scientific principles.

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