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Which important institutions are located in central Melbourne’s original settlement area?
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Melbourne
Aerial view of Melbourne's central business district, with Princes Bridge and Flinders Street train station in the foreground.
The original settlement area of Melbourne, which serves as the city's financial, legal, administrative, and ecclesiastical heart, is laid out in a rectangular pattern along the Yarra River. This core area houses several significant institutions, including:1
- Government and Legal: Victoria’s Houses of Parliament and the Law Courts.1
- Religious: The Anglican and Roman Catholic cathedrals.1
- Education and Culture: The State Library and various arts and entertainment venues.1
- Financial: Major financial institutions, such as the Melbourne Stock Exchange and the headquarters of major banks.1
- Transportation: The city's major suburban and interstate railway stations.1
While many buildings in this area are modern, the Town Hall and the Law Courts remain notable examples of 19th-century official architecture. Additionally, the Royal Exhibition Building, located in the nearby Carlton Gardens, stands as a significant historical landmark and the first building in Australia to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.12