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Melbourne, Australia

Traditions and customs in Melbourne

5 customs and traditions in Melbourne — what they are, and how to take part without causing offence.

Last updated 2026-08-09

1. Coffee culture

Coffee culture
Photo: Daniel Walker · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source

Melbourne shaped how the world drinks flat whites; the standard is genuinely high.

2. Australian Open and the sporting calendar

Australian Open and the sporting calendar
Photo: Nightingale · Pexels License · source

Tennis in January, the AFL Grand Final in September, the Melbourne Cup in November.

3. Laneway bars

Laneway bars
Photo: William Murphy from Dublin, Ireland · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source

Unmarked doors and rooftops — the city's defining nightlife form.

4. Multicultural food

Multicultural food
Photo: Daniel Walker · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source

Greek, Vietnamese, Italian and Ethiopian communities each with their own high street.

5. Four seasons in one day

Four seasons in one day
Photo: Shashank Brahmavar · Pexels License · source

A genuine local saying and an accurate weather forecast.

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