There is a state in Australia that is fertile and lush, with a comfortable climate, many ways to be entertained, and the best cup of coffee in Australia. Victoria is the second largest state in terms of population, with the second largest city, and the smallest landmass of any continental Australian state. With its large population density, Victoria is a cultural hub and melting pot of many backgrounds, creating a celebration of art and heritage. This state has so much to offer, it is perhaps the hardest to resist.
Victoria at a glance
Continental Australia’s southern state is well known as a cultural hub, rich in diversity and celebrating the many backgrounds of those who live there. It is the fastest growing state, with its capital Melbourne almost dethroning Sydney as the largest city in Australia.
Population
Victoria is home to approximately 6.3 million people, with roughly 5 million living in the state’s capital Melbourne. Victoria is the second most populated state after New South Wales. It is the most densely-populated state (second most if you count the Australian Capital Territory). Melbourne has the fastest growth rate among capital cities, set to overtake Sydney as the largest city in Australia before 2030.
Main Regions
The following are some of the more popular regions of Victoria, and for what the area is most commonly known.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the state capital. It is well-known as one of the most diverse areas in Australia. It has often been voted as one of the most liveable cities in the world. The city can be easy to navigate, with a network of trams making public transport easy. It is also Australia’s coffee capital, with its Italian influence bringing bespoke cafes on nearly every corner. As one of the older cities in Australia, its many winding lanes and alleys offer surprise food and beverage destinations at every turn. It is a city for the culinary and culturally adventurous.
Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island
The Mornington Peninsula takes the southern European coastal feeling and architecture, then combines it with Australian weather and scenery. The result is an area that is rich in culture, cuisine, and some great views. Phillip Island is home to not only a penguin population, but also koalas; a great place to experience Australian wildlife.
Yarra and Daylesford, The Dandenong and The Macedon Ranges
The areas just to the North and East of Melbourne are not a long drive for excellent wine country with breathtaking scenery. Here you can see clearly why Victoria became the area of choice for european settlement in its colonial past. These regions are popular tourism destinations.
Gippsland
The region in the eastern part of the state is strong for agriculture and specifically livestock. Gippsland is well known for the Australian dairy industry and fine Australian wool. The area is also the origin for some of Australia’s finest grass-fed beef and lamb.
High Country and The Murray
The northern part of Victoria is rich in early Australian architecture, history, and Australia’s most fertile lands. The Murray is one of the finest waterways in the southern part of the country, well known for fishing and watersport.
Great Ocean Road, The Grampians, and Goldfields
The western side of the state is filled with fertile lands for agriculture, packed with broadacre cropping and livestock farming. The southern edge of the state includes The Great Ocean Road, one of the most iconic places to drive in Australia.
Climate
Victoria has a temperate climate. It’s position on the southern side of the country means it picks up much of the cool arctic air. Unlike many parts of Australia it does not experience the incredible dry spells that plague other parts of the country. It usually has a warm summer avoiding the scathing heat experienced by the rest of the country. Its winters are very mild. Melbourne is famous for its cloud cover and rainy days.
Lifestyle
Victoria has had multiple cultural influences, giving it a varied cultural identity. It is a celebration of different backgrounds. The people of Victoria are incredibly proud of the rich and diverse culture that they offer to the rest of the country.
Sports
Victoria is the only state to have two public holidays for sporting events. The Melbourne Cup is a horse race that is held every year and is known as ‘the race that stops the nation’ and the state recognises the event with a public holiday. The rest of the country also usually stops work and school to watch this 2200 metre horse race at three in the afternoon on the first Tuesday in November. More recently, the state has also created a public holiday for the Australian Rules football grand final. Many residents of Victoria watch sports closely.
Cuisine
Victoria has a heavy mediterranean influence with its food. With the popularity of livestock farming, many enjoy the paddock to plate experience with grass-fed beef or lamb. The many Asian immigrants have also taken the opportunity to establish Vietnamese, Thai, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese restaurants, especially in the Melbourne area. For the most Australian and classic Victorian experience, a Pot and a Parma is an essential menu item; a Chicken Schnitzel Parmigiana served with your preference of beer. This is a trans-cultural serving enjoyed by many.
Beverages
The state is famous for its varied alcoholic beverages including breweries, wineries, and boutique distilleries. One of Australia’s most popular beers is named Victoria Bitter. The many wine regions produce glorious iconic vintages. Of course, there is also the well known coffee culture of Melbourne, often credited as being the coffee capital of Australia.
Cost of Living
Compared to living in Sydney, Melbourne is slightly more cost efficient. Salaries are lower than Sydney, but housing affordability along with a range of other more competitive costs of living Melbourne is a more economical place to live. There are also many opportunities for employment in Melbourne, since its population growth has been generating ample opportunity in a range of sectors.
Main Places of Interest
Victoria has many must-go places. Every corner of the state offers a different piece of history and scenery, completed with other hidden gems in between. There are many things to see and do, and the following are a good start.
Great Ocean Road
243 kilometres of some of the most iconic beaches and rock formations in Australia. This section of the Australian highways network is well known since almost every car commercial is shot there to take advantage of the glorious panoramas and sense of adventure that the region offers. A must-see is the well-known twelve apostles rock formation.
Yarra Valley Wine Region
Victoria’s offering of Yarra Valley cellar doors are also complimented with locally-produced cheeses and some of the finest hatted restaurants in Australia. These fertile areas are also packed with stunning gardens, romantic atmosphere, and calming country air. Enjoy a drive through the rolling green hills while enjoying some of the finest pinot noir and chardonnay that the country can offer.
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Victorians are fascinated with sport, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is the destination of choice to catch either a test match of cricket, or a game of Australian Rules Football. The vibrancy and excitement of the crowd at either is a must-do experience, and a highlight of Melbourne sporting culture.
Mornington Peninsula
There are a few places in Australia that offer a taste of it all, and The Mornington Peninsula is one of them. Not too far from Melbourne, this region is home to beaches, hot springs, and beautiful views of Port Phillip Bay. You can enjoy its many iconic wineries and gourmet lunch options. The Mornington is also packed with places for great surf, relaxing walks, and amazing vantage points.
Main Industries
Varied in climate and culture, with Australia’s second largest city, Victoria has no shortage when it comes to opportunities for a successful career.
Creative Industries
Melbourne is well known as the creative hub of Australia. The city is iconic for the arts including music, television, comedy, theatre, as well as photography. Melbourne represents half of Australia’s game developers, as well as being home to many graphic designers and others in the creative side of marketing.
Technology and Innovation
Victoria and especially Melbourne is home to many entrepreneurial companies. Being more cost efficient than Sydney makes the city ideal for technology start-ups specialising in cloud technology, data analytics, and software development, among other fields. An industry of growth for Victoria is also new clean energy technologies, with the state investing heavily in the sector.
Professional Services
With creativity and technological innovation comes a need for the support behind these businesses, as well as the many corporations with offices across the city of Melbourne. For this reason, professional services including accountants, marketing, and other consultants become a must-have for the offices of the central business district.
Agriculture
The state of Victoria is responsible for a significant level of Australian production when it comes to food, whether livestock or crops. Victoria is recognised for a strong dairy industry and well as fine Australian sheep fleece that is perfect for turning into clothing.
Education
The state of Victoria is an intellectual and educational stronghold in Australia. The state offers schooling through to high school and there are many private school opportunities. The state of Victoria is home to eight universities offering tertiary education. There are also trade schools to learn more hands-on vocations.
Fun Facts about Victoria
- Victoria’s tram system is the largest outside of europe. It has 244 kilometres of track and more than 450 trams.
- The Black Box flight recorder that is used to record flight and cockpit data in cases of aircraft disaster was conceived and invented in Victoria by Dr David Warren.
- Iconic Australian vehicle ‘the ute’ was first produced in the Ford factory in Geelong, Victoria.
- The top five languages other than English spoken in Victoria are Mandarin, Italian, Greek, Vietnamese, and Arabic.
- At 227,416 square kilometres, Victoria is Australia’s smallest mainland state.
Top Five Reasons to Live in VIctoria
- Entertainment. There are non-stop museums and historical sights, with a wide range of creative arts including music and comedy.
- Weather. Victoria provides a comfortable mix of cool winters, while still enjoying warm summers without the intense heat experienced in other parts of Australia.
- Sports Fanatics. Many Victorians enjoy a broad range of sporting activities, and it is the only state in Australia with two public holidays because of sporting events.
- Environment. Victoria is well-known for having a very progressive attitude towards creating a cleaner environment for future Australia.
- The Coffee. The city of Melbourne as well as the state of Victoria is well known for fantastic coffee.
Closing Thoughts
Victoria is most definitely the place to be. Every corner of the state is rich in historical and cultural heritage. If you are in need of entertainment, Victoria will answer that call, whether it’s watching sport, theatre, or live music. If you have a life goal to accomplish in terms of career, Victoria offers everything from banking and finance, to education, to agriculture, to creative industry and the arts. There is no wonder why the state is called the place to be.
Visa options for Victoria
Victoria continues to grow – and part of that growth strategy is skilled migration and the use of Australian skilled visa programs. You can find general information on Australian skilled visas here.
Strengthening the “regional areas” – that is, regions outside the capital Melbourne – is an explicit priority for the Victorian Government. From a migration perspective, almost the entire state of Victoria is classified as “regional”, with the only exception being metropolitan Melbourne. All other areas are treated as regional locations for visa purposes, giving applicants access to the relevant regional visa subclasses.
In addition, there is a DAMA (Designated Area Migration Agreement) in place for the Great South Coast region. This allows potential migrants with occupations that are not otherwise listed on the Australian skilled occupation lists to access a work visa. You can find more information about the DAMA for Victoria in our blog article.
What can the visa pathway look like?
There are different ways to make the dream of living and working in Australia a reality. The key is choosing the strategy that brings you closest to your goal – meaning the visa option that offers the best prospects in your individual situation. Each visa subclass has its own requirements and is linked to specific rights and conditions. The best approach will always depend on your personal circumstances.
That is why it is important to approach your Australian visa pathway in a structured way and clarify the key requirements in advance, in order to avoid problems during the application process. Visapath Australia is happy to help you map out your roadmap to an Australian work visa. We advise you on the different options and support you step by step along the way.
