Melbourne is famously multicultural, with successive waves of immigration (British, Irish, German, Chinese, Italian, Greek, Jewish, Vietnamese, Indian and many more) shaping the city of today. While a whole museum dedicated to the subject might sound painfully worthy, the Immigration Museum (museumsvictoria.com.au; adult/child $15/10) lightens the tone through personal stories and memorabilia. Contentious subjects such as the White Australia Policy (1901–45) are covered, but the overall mood is more celebratory than po-faced. The upstairs galleries are given over to colorful artistic expressions of immigrant life, which included a recreated suburban video store when we last visited.
Plus, the neoclassical building is worth a trip in itself. It was built in 1876 as the Customs House, and its column-lined Long Room is a magnificent piece of Italian Renaissance–revival architecture. Allow an hour to explore.
Keep an eye out for workshops and special events.
