Q 01/05

Melbourne is the capital of which Australian state?

A) Victoria

B) Western Australia

C) Queensland

D) South Australia

Answer · why

A) Victoria

Victoria became a separate colony in 1851 with Melbourne as its capital, and the city is now home to about 19% of Australia's population.

Q 02/05

Melbourne occupies the northern and eastern shores of which bay?

A) Botany Bay

B) Port Phillip Bay

C) Moreton Bay

D) Shark Bay

Answer · why

B) Port Phillip Bay

Port Phillip Bay is so enclosed and shallow that its water is warmer than the open ocean in summer and colder in winter.

Q 03/05

What are the inhabitants of Melbourne called?

A) Melbournites

B) Melbournese

C) Melburnians

D) Melbourners

Answer · why

C) Melburnians

Melburnians take their spelling from Melburnia, a Latin name for the city, though the variant 'Melbournian' also turns up.

Q 04/05

Melbourne was named in 1837 after whom?

A) A Royal Navy admiral

B) A colonial governor

C) A Dutch explorer

D) A British prime minister

Answer · why

D) A British prime minister

A British prime minister, William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, lent his title to the city while he led the government from 1835 to 1841.

Q 05/05

Melbourne's founding settlers sailed across Bass Strait from which colony?

A) New Zealand

B) Van Diemen's Land

C) Norfolk Island

D) Swan River Colony

Answer · why

B) Van Diemen's Land

Van Diemen's Land, renamed Tasmania in 1856, sent two rival parties of settlers, who agreed to share the site rather than dispute who arrived first.