Melbourne Then and Now® (Then and Now)Melbourne has often been considered the most English of Australia's various capital cities, yet it was the only one to be founded by a native born Australian. In 1835 John Batman sailed from Port Philip and up the Yarra River to establish his new village. By the 1850s the discovery of gold had led to a rapid expansion and the city now had the financial muscle to build grand institutional structures. Melbourne Then and Now gives a fascinating insight