But as the festivities kick into gear, we thought it was the perfect time to acknowledge some of the Victorian capital's often overlooked talking points.
Melbourne could have been named 'Batmania'
Print Collector/Getty Images Melbourne ended up being names after Lord Melbourne, not John Batman, or the comic book character.
If things had been different, the first settlement that ultimately became Melbourne could have taken its name not from the caped crusader, but after John Batman, one of the first settlers in the area and a key founder of the city.
Melbourne's tram system is really, really big
Getty Images Melbourne has a whopping great tram network.
The city's famous tramway system is the largest outside Europe and the fourth largest in the world, stretching along 244 kilometres of track and comprising 450 trams.
There are heaps of great sports stadiums in Melbourne
Allan Baxter The MCG is one of 5 incredible sports stadiums in Melbourne.
Melbourne's the only city on the planet that has 5 sporting facilities that meet international standards really close to its CBD. There's the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Docklands Stadium, Rod Laver Arena, Hisense Arena and Olympic Park in Melbourne Park.
Melbourne is as Aussie as Vegemite
Getty Images The idea for Vegemite was sparked in Melbourne.
Vegemite was invented in Melbourne in 1922 and more than 1 billion jars of Vegemite have been manufactured at its Port Phillip plant. There's even a Melbourne street named after the iconic spread.
Melbourne's the birthplace of movies
duncan1890 The world's first feature film was made in Melbourne.
The Story of the Kelly Gang opened in Melbourne on Boxing Day 1906 and is thought to be the world's first feature-length narrative movie. The story of the famous bush ranger is said to have "enthralled audiences across the country".
