Ask Google about Melbourne? Ask Fairlie!

Have you noticed how, when you start typing a search word or phrase into Google, it helpfully offers you suggestions to complete your typing? It’s like Google can read your mind and finish your sentence for you.

These auto-complete suggestions are generated by Google based on previous search activity by all users. It’s a handy little insight to what’s on people’s minds. For instance, start typing the search question, “Is Tony Abbott…” and Google helpfully suggests the following ways to complete your search: …a good prime minister? …liberal? …insane? …a psychopath?

Like I said, an interesting insight into the zeitgeist of the population.

It’s a tool I sometimes use when I’m researching travel destinations. Vague questions about a location can throw up interesting auto-completion options, leading me off on a whole new direction of research.

So, in this post (which is the first of a regular series of weekly “Ask Google? Ask Fairlie!” posts) I tested it out with a couple of open-ended queries about my own home town of Melbourne. And once I found out what people are wanting to know, I have answered those questions myself. Who needs Google when you can ask Fairlie?

What is Melbourne’s…

What is Melbourne’s postcode?

This is a nice easy one to start with! Melbourne’s postcode is 3000. Unless you’re mailing something to a GPO Box in Melbourne, in which case, it’s 3001. Or to the bit of Melbourne along St Kilda Road…that’s 3004. And some businesses or Government departments use 8001. Sheesh…this isn’t as easy as I thought. Next question.

What is Melbourne’s population?

A lot? I know it’s a bit less than Sydney, but more than any other Australian city. And it’s growing all the time. Okay…I’ll check something official. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the population of Greater Melbourne in the 2011 Census was 3,999,982. But figures thrown up by Google suggest it is now something over 4.25 million, and growing. In fact, the Victorian Government’s planning blueprint suggests the population of Melbourne could be 7.7 million by 2051.

What is Melbourne’s coldest month?

Ahhh. Obviously Googlers are people after my own heart. I’m so not a cold-weather person. I always want to know what the coldest months are for places, so I can avoid them. Here in Melbourne, I find most months from May to October to be a bit chilly. But according to the records, July is the coldest month, while June has the least sunny days and hours of sunshine. Having said that, in 2013 the coldest day was in August and the coldest night was in September. The one thing that can definitely be said about Melbourne’s weather is that it is unpredictable.

What is Melbourne’s best…

What is Melbourne’s best restaurant?

Oh my goodness. This is like asking which is your favorite child. Melbourne is a foodie’s paradise. There’s a huge range of fabulous eateries at every price point. But if I’m really pressed to name one that I think is ‘the best’, it would be Shannon Bennett’s flagship Vue de Monde restaurant on the 55th floor of the Rialto Tower. Dining out at Vue de Monde is something to be saved for a special occasion. It’s theatrical, adventurous and extravagant. But not cheap ($150 for 4-course a la carte or $250 for the 10-course degustation).

What is Melbourne’s best hotel?

Funnily enough, I haven’t stayed in a lot of hotels in Melbourne (it being my home town and all…) but we did have a ‘staycation’ in the city one year where we stayed at The Metropol at Crown, and I’ve had other occasions to stay for a night or two in the city (Hilton South Wharf, Stamford Plaza, Holiday Inn on Flinders). People rave about The Park Hyatt, and also all The Art Series Hotels. The Lyall Hotel in South Yarra is well-located and has a fabulous day spa. For old-school glamour, there’s always The Windsor on Spring Street, and next time I stay in the city, I think I’ll try out the funky-looking Ovolo 19 Little Bourke Street or The Adelphi Hotel with its glass swimming pool that overhangs Flinders Lane below.

Ummm…does that answer the question?

What is Melbourne’s best beach?

Oh dear. We’re treading on dangerous ground here. I always offend native-Melbournians with my assessment of Melbourne’s beaches. I grew up in Western Australia. So to me, ‘beaches’ are acres of white-sand and the roar of rolling surf. Melbourne is located at the northern end of Port Phillip Bay…a 1,930 square kilometre bay which is open only to the open sea through the 3.5 kilometre wide The Heads between Point Lonsdale and Point Nepean. So, the metropolitan beaches of Melbourne, are in fact very protected bay beaches. These beaches are generally flat and shallow with very small breaks. It makes for a safe swimming location, but not what I call a ‘beach’. But thousands disagree, and on hot days the popular swimming beaches of St Kilda, Brighton and Elwood are always packed. I think Brighton Beach with its iconic row of brightly-painted beach boxes is the most picturesque. (Should I confess at this point that I’ve never actually swum at a Melbourne bay beach in 20+ years of living in Melbourne? I’ve been up to my knees in the water at Mount Eliza beach…but that is the closest I’ve got. They’re just not beaches, as far as I’m concerned.)