'We did it': Bandt holds on to Melbourne

Adam Bandt has retained the seat of Melbourne for the Greens and says it's a win for people power against the big parties.

Federal Greens MP Adam Bandt with his wife Claudia Perkins at the Greens 2016 election night party at the Forum Theatre in Melbourne, Saturday, July, 2, 2016. Source: AAP

A glowing Adam Bandt has thanked the electorate of Melbourne for returning him to the seat for the third time.

Mr Bandt addressed a jubilant crowd in Melbourne, saying the Greens were on the rise and this election had put them on the map - with significant swings in a number of Victorian seats.

"It's humbling to be a Greens elected to the lower house for the third time in a row," he said.

"We don't have the money of the old parties but we've got something they haven't got, people power. And we're showing people power can win."

Mr Bandt gained the seat from Labor at the 2010 election and was widely tipped to retain the seat in 2016.