Melbourne is a township.
Melbourne ( [ ˈmɛlbərn ] ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria , and the second-most populous city in Australia and Oceania . Melbourne consists of 31 municipalities . During the Victorian gold rush of the 1850s , it was transformed into one of the world 's largest and wealthiest cities . It was the host city of the 1956 Summer Olympics and the 2006 Commonwealth Games . Melbourne Airport , colloquially known as the Tullamarine airport , is the primary airport serving the city of Melbourne , and the second busiest airport in Australia .