 (Disclaimer: based on a very small sample size.)
* Depicted above is one of the best signs I have seen, part of an official safety campaign. That particular photo is from the official Facebook page, but I saw rhino posters at several tram stops around the city.
* In general, Melbourne seems more concerned with aesthetics – and artistry – than Sydney. You know the concrete barriers by the side of freeways? This is the first time I’ve seen them painted – either in patterns or in cheerful green.
* Similarly, Melbourne retail appears more innovative. Almost every large Sydney mall I’ve been to was a big white enclosed box. However, in Melbourne I visited a centre (QV Building) with a nice courtyard and a surprisingly attractive minimalist concrete interior decor; and another (Melbourne Central, below) built around a central atrium housing a nineteenth-century shot tower!
* Housing seems much more affordable than Sydney, again based on a small sample (the listings in one agent’s window). I saw city apartments in both cities going for roughly the same rents; but the Sydney apartments were clapped-out while their Melbourne counterparts were sleek and new.
* The touristy part of central Melbourne is compact and walkable, and this means the good food in Chinatown isn’t too far away!
* Instead of Sydney’s iconic harbour and beaches, Melbourne has the Yarra river. The Yarra’s south bank (above) isn’t bad, but I don’t think it can rival the sheer loveliness of Sydney Harbour.
* As an aside, the Hume Highway linking Sydney and Melbourne is surprisingly scenic, flanked by hills and golden plains. It’s also the most direct route, taking ~10 hours to drive.
Overall, after a few days, I perhaps slightly prefer Melbourne to Sydney. Â However, the differences (lack of a harbour aside) seem pretty modest — they are both large, Australian, cosmopolitan cities, closer alike than their respective partisans would suggest. Pleasant places for a visit!