A disproportionate number of posts on this forum involve arguments over the century old Sydney/Melbourne rivalry.

I'd be interested to know which city is favoured. Here's your chance to vote and comment.

Hypothetically, you have been offered a job in either Sydney or Melbourne. You have to choose betwen one of them. No other choices. Which one would would you choose and why? Why didn't you choose the other?

Alkso tells us where you currently live.

Melbourne has style. Melbourne has class.

there are more melbourne members.

good question!! we haven't had this question in any similar form before. this thread will no doubt give us the answer once and for all. we can then publish a paper on our great study.

Sydney!

Where is the "neither" button?

Sydney is brilliant and dynamic but Melbourne beats it easily on so many levels.

now you're gonna ask me 'what levels?' huh?

I've lived in both and know each city very well. Sydney has 'the setting' but Melbourne just romps it in - at least it does now as opposed to 20 years ago.

Mine is purely based on Friends and where I feel comfortable, so I chose Sydney, but if I was offered a job of a lifetime, then Melbourne I would certainly consider

This thread has a timer ticking down on it...

How stupid. All the ppl from Sydney will say Sydney and all the ppl from Melb will say Melb. If u asked the rest of the world im sure you will get a 75 - 25 majority Sydney.

tick tick tick

Melbourneeeeeeeeee

How stupid. All the ppl from Sydney will say Sydney and all the ppl from Melb will say Melb. If u asked the rest of the world im sure you will get a 75 - 25 majority Sydney.

There are people living in Melbourne who can't get out of it quick enough and probably the same in Sydney. So far it's 9-6 - fairly close.

'Things' to do such as sight seeing, restauranting, live entertainment, cultural activities, sporting activities, big events, ease of getting around, ethnic mixes, slums, crime, traffic jams, quality and ease of public transport, quality of life, etc. These things can't be measured - they come down to one's preference.

What do you hate about the other city?

Melbourne has it's charms and I love it, but it just doesn't feel as international or as switched on. Certainly, Sydney has far more hussle and bussle. The topography helps alot too, whereby vistas of the city can be hidden from view and then suddenly spring up, people are packed together around the harbour where ferries ply the water with pleasure craft. Trains shoot by in all directions, cars disappear into all manner of tunnels - seemingly swallowed by the city. The city itself is just way more alive in every respect and far more 24-7 in many ways.

soweto...

melbourne.

better road network. Hotter summers.

Melbourne has it's charms and I love it, but it just doesn't feel as international or as switched on. Certainly, Sydney has far more hussle and bussle. The topography helps alot too, whereby vistas of the city can be hidden from view and then suddenly spring up, people are packed together around the harbour where ferries ply the water with pleasure craft. Trains shoot by in all directions, cars disappear into all manner of tunnels - seemingly swallowed by the city. The city itself is just way more alive in every respect and far more 24-7 in many ways.

This is all very subjective and often ones experience of a city is determined by them living in that particular city. Knowing where to go on particular nights, which areas are full and which are not, and where the hidden alleyways bursting with clubs etc are located.

Being a tourist you often beat to another drum than the cities residents.

For example working in retail I often see Sydneysiders enter the store at 7pm on a Thursday evening and questioning why all the Melbourne shops are closed. Well this is because our late night shopping night is Friday and not Thursday. If they dont know this then they will return to Sydney and state how backward Melbourne is or how quiet it was etc..

Melbourne. MOST LIVABLE CITY IN THE HOLE WIDE WORLD, MAN.

We are like soooooo European in everything!!!1! Soooo much class.

We're more multicultural - our effnicks don't riot as much.

We're like the KULTURAL KAPITAL of Australia! We're like just oozing our culture all teh time.

Melbourne is ranked #1 in the McMadeupRadmomShitface Institute's List of Totally Awesome cities!

Also we've got a loads more fancy schmancy restaurants severing to upper middle class latte sippers.

Oh and our western suburbs are like wayyyy smaller man.

And plus we've got less terrorists Muslims than Sydney. That's gotta mean sumthing.

This is all very subjective and often ones experience of a city is determined by them living in that particular city. Knowing where to go on particular nights, which areas are full and which are not, and where the hidden alleyways bursting with clubs etc are located.

Being a tourist you often beat to another drum than the cities residents.

For example working in retail I often see Sydneysiders enter the store at 7pm on a Thursday evening and questioning why all the Melbourne shops are closed. Well this is because our late night shopping night is Friday and not Thursday. If they dont know this then they will return to Sydney and state how backward Melbourne is or how quiet it was etc..

I know where to go, I have close, 'in the know' Melburnite friends ... it's not as busy. period.

melbourne.

better road network. Hotter summers.

Roads I will agree with, but the perceived temps is arguable when you factor in humidity.

Sydney: No one likes us, we don't care.

I know where to go, I have close, 'in the know' Melburnite friends ... it's not as busy. period.

So where do you go? And on what nights?

Would be interesting to know.

So our resturants, nightlife are dramatically more quiet than Sydney despite having more bars pre capita than any city on this land and more relaxed liqour licencing laws.


I dont like bars. Anyway this was more a question of 24-7 business, I find Sydney more alive in the day and at night on any given night. It's really not just about bars and clubs. Its just about people doing whatever they do.

Most recently, I was there for a week and out every day and night of the week and spent alot of time all over the CBD and South Yarra. When in Melbourne I just don't feel the vibe of a very large city. It has a vibe but it's not pulsing and in constant flux, the hum it different, muted somewhat. There are things to do but overall it just feel more quiet.

Sydney: No one likes us, we don't care.


It's ok most of the forumers are from VIC.

Density perhaps has alot to do with the lack of vibe. Although many Sydneysiders including my cousins often talk about the vibe of Melbourne, that its chic and cool in contrast to Sydney's brashness.

One thing I would like to mention though is the lack of activity within Sydney CBD on weeknights, it becomes a ghost town, why is that? (serious question)

I found certain parts busy during the day, but more particulary George Street was the busiest and I would compare it to a combination of Swanston and Collins St in one. George street is the busiest street in the nation, but Melbourne does have a really cool vibe about it, shame you didnt experience it.

Density perhaps has alot to do with the lack of vibe. Although many Sydneysiders including my cousins often talk about the vibe of Melbourne, that its chic and cool in contrast to Sydney's brashness.

Have to agree the Melbourne CBD has a very cool/funky vibe about it.

In Sydney, you need to go out of the CBD into the inner-west, inner-east to find anything like it.

One thing I would like to mention though is the lack of activity within Sydney CBD on weeknights, it becomes a ghost town, why is that? (serious question)

Hmmm. I have to disagree.

I work odd hours so I go out on the piss during the week quite a bit and it's pretty much always busy, especially around George St.

Bad idea for a thread........:lock:

To be fair I was walking around the Qantas Building and the Sheraton Area, also close to Martin Place and it was quiet. Park St was also quiet, but perhaps the George Street area is where night-time activity takes place.

Heres a picture of why I love Melbourne

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/142/328564939_328720c5b2_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/142/328564939_328720c5b2_o.jpg
renair @ flickr images

I'm torn between the two, really. Melbourne is more my type of city and I could seamlessly move there. The city life and culture I find to be way more lively for the things I like to do.

The issue is, I live in a really nice hilly part of Sydney with the harbour and beaches within a 15 minute walk and I think I'd feel like I'd always miss it if I move to Melbourne, no matter how much i'd enjoy living in Melbourne. When people bag Sydney by saying 'show us the real sydney', meaning western Sydney, that has no relevance to me whatsoever. I go to Melbourne more times per year than I go past Summer Hill. But i catch ferries by the harbour, read books by the harbour, take photos of the harbour, eat at cafes or picnic by the harbour, go for walks/jogs in the harbourside bushland, or swim at beaches (harbour and ocean), at least 5 days a week, and the weather in sydney largely permits this for most of the year. As much as I do want to move to Melbourne, I find where I live and what I have acccess to in Sydney is too much of a hook to move.

But honestly, only the slightest provocation and I'd live in Melbourne and live there bloody well, thank you :).

This thread might by interesting if Melbourne and Sydney people were excluded from the poll. I have much better knowledge of Sydney than I do of Melbourne but if I had to live in either city I would definately choose Melbourne.

I haven't been to Sydney in years but Melbourne I frequent often and could easily live there. We had a thread on here a few years ago that asked "If your city blew up where would you move to?" and it really made me think and I overwhelmingly chose Melbourne.

Although I haven't been to Sydney for years, I don't think I could hack the pace for too long. I still think its nice everytime I've been - but not to live.

Although I haven't been to Sydney for years, I don't think I could hack the pace for too long. I still think its nice everytime I've been - but not to live.

LOL don't go to Hong Kong then ... Australia and even Sydney feels sleepy when compared with many other foreign cities, but i guess you alredy know that.

I've lived in Rome for a while, put sydney to shame- got used to it I suppose, as you would any other city.
Shouldn't be too harsh on sydney, i reckon I could probably adapt to sydney if I had to live there, been there a few times and you do get used to it after a while - but by choice, it would be Melbourne.

It's ok most of the forumers are from VIC.

Not really. That was the case back in 2002 when this forum opened, but a lot of forumers have left in the five years since with fewer newcomers. Judging by post count, the Victorian forum has the third fewest posts, ahead of only SA, NZ and "other".

This thread is stupid though. But there just has to be one every year.

Well Melbourne for me is my kinda city. Alive, buzzing, amazing. Its got it all for me. Footy, chicks, food, entertainment, lifestyle. Only drawback i guess is its assessibility to Australian standard beaches and the poo weather. But its part of the city i guess.

But in saying that, its not a knock on Sydney nor is it saying one better than the other. Sydney might even be a better city. Its just a personal choice at the end of the day.

Well Melbourne for me is my kinda city. Alive, buzzing, amazing. Its got it all for me. Footy, chicks, food, entertainment, lifestyle. Only drawback i guess is its assessibility to Australian standard beaches and the poo weather. But its part of the city i guess.

But in saying that, its not a knock on Sydney nor is it saying one better than the other. Sydney might even be a better city. Its just a personal choice at the end of the day.

What is it with the bad beaches and crap weather reputation.

I mean I have travelled (not to perth), but most other capitals, and overseas 2 times, our beaches are great, perhaps you have to drive for an hour/ hour and half to get to surf beaches but the bay beaches are a paradise unto themselves, great crowds, tranquill waters, warm waters, etc...and surf beaches not that far off either. Most of Melbourne migrates to the Penisulas and Surf Coast for summer (Jan) and the lifestyle is amazing.

Check out pics of Melbourne's Beaches in the Environs thread.

Weather isnt that bad either, winter is colder, but summer is summer.

I can walk to the beach. ;)

I can also walk to the city.

Even though I grew up in Victoria, if I had to live in one or the other the rest of my life; I'd choose Sydney. It feels so much more livlier, has beautiful vistas, feels more worldly, has a more cosmopolitan vibe, terrific beaches, and sunnier weather. I really feel like it's a place I'd enjoy everyday and be proud to call "home"

I love Melbourne for its culture and European feel, but I sure don't miss the freezing winds and that the city closes down at 6PM.

Both are excellent cities and are on top of my list as the best cities in the world

hard to say, ive got a very sketchy recollection of either city. usually fly in, get medicated, have sexy toim in the vagin, go on a random adventure or two, then fly home before monday.

both cities are fine.

I've always been from Melbourne but Sydney is slowly growing on me :D.

But most of Western Sydney makes me sad :( (Liverpool = biggest holes ever), so I'll vote for Melbourne.

Even though I grew up in Victoria, if I had to live in one or the other the rest of my life; I'd choose Sydney. It feels so much more livlier, has beautiful vistas, feels more worldly, has a more cosmopolitan vibe, terrific beaches, and sunnier weather. I really feel like it's a place I'd enjoy everyday and be proud to call "home"

I love Melbourne for its culture and European feel, but I sure don't miss the freezing winds and that the city closes down at 6PM.

Both are excellent cities and are on top of my list as the best cities in the world

What closes at 6pm and when?

I must be living in a different Melbourne to you...we have the most relaxed liqour licencing laws in Australia, and its busy, to the point of packed most nights I go out, including Tuesdays through Sunday, the type of hole in the wall bars found in Melbourne I have only ever experienced elsewhere in NYC when I was there last July.

You can just lease out a space here, throw up a few curtains and get your best mate to DJ and it can become one of the hottest bars in town. Thats the beauty of creativity and diversity found here.

I must sound like the most porochial dickwad, but I am travelled and knowledgable, but I just notice that Melbourne is very much under-rated and suffers from not fitting into the perceived culture of Australia, that relaxed, beachy, surfy culture. We have those elements, but it kind of suffers. Respect and aknowledgement would be great.

What closes at 6pm and when?

I must be living in a different Melbourne to you...we have the most relaxed liqour licencing laws in Australia, and its busy, to the point of packed most nights I go out, including Tuesdays through Sunday, the type of hole in the wall bars found in Melbourne I have only ever experienced elsewhere in NYC when I was there last July.

You can just lease out a space here, throw up a few curtains and get your best mate to DJ and it can become one of the hottest bars in town. Thats the beauty of creativity and diversity found here.

I must sound like the most porochial dickwad, but I am travelled and knowledgable, but I just notice that Melbourne is very much under-rated and suffers from not fitting into the perceived culture of Australia, that relaxed, beachy, surfy culture. We have those elements, but it kind of suffers. Respect and aknowledgement would be great.

The nightclubs and pubs in Melbourne are decent. But what I was referring to was that after dark, the city streets in the CBD and many of the suburbs are dead quiet. Almost to the point that it's creepy.

During the day it's a bustling and energetic city, but it seems as though as soon as people get out of work, the whole city goes silent. It just seems eerie wandering around such a large city at night and seeing so few souls.

Granted, Melbourne's excellent night scene is more underground than Sydneys and it isn't as brash or upfront. However, I just love the vibe at night in Sydney, it's exciting and the streets are still teeming with people.

Sydney.
I grew up in Melbourne and Brisbane and then after university moved to Sydney.
To get a decent job in financial markets there is only one city in Australia to be.

What is it with the bad beaches and crap weather reputation.

I mean I have travelled (not to perth), but most other capitals, and overseas 2 times, our beaches are great, perhaps you have to drive for an hour/ hour and half to get to surf beaches but the bay beaches are a paradise unto themselves, great crowds, tranquill waters, warm waters, etc...and surf beaches not that far off either. Most of Melbourne migrates to the Penisulas and Surf Coast for summer (Jan) and the lifestyle is amazing.

Check out pics of Melbourne's Beaches in the Environs thread.

Weather isnt that bad either, winter is colder, but summer is summer.
No im not having a dig at your beaches nor your weather.

With your beaches. I was rather referring to how they arent easily assessible. I.e you have to drive for a while to reach Lorne, torquay, Bells (i think its in Vic). And you can barely call St Kilda a beach (well not the streotyped ones im used to). But dont get me wrong, i still love St Kilda.

And with the weather. Its more to do with its randomness at changing at many different times during the day. I can only go from my experiences and yes it changed alot in a day.

But as i said before, its part and passel of Melburnia and its all part of the experience. Its not a bad thing rather stating its different from my ideals and what im used to.

That's true, although Victoria's beaches tend to be less developed, which some like myself prefer. That being said, I haven't been to any NSW beaches outside of metro Sydney.

^ many of nsw beaches are extremely isolated due to being within inaccessible national parks. you could be the only person around all day. even the northern sections of the beach at cronulla will be sparsely covered with people. there's often just as many 4wds as people up that end.

The question has a lot of variables. If I was a career orinetated person then definatley Sydney.

Sydney is titanic but Melbourne is divine.

The question has a lot of variables. If I was a career orinetated person then definatley Sydney.

In Finance

^ many of nsw beaches are extremely isolated due to being within inaccessible national parks. you could be the only person around all day. even the northern sections of the beach at cronulla will be sparsely covered with people. there's often just as many 4wds as people up that end.

We have some extremely isolated hardour beaches too, even around mosman, which is on Sydney harbour.

^ yep, we do, they are also mostly national park beaches and some are nudie aswell (mostly gay nudie for the benefit of some forumers, albeit fat old poofs). i was thinking along the lines of ocean beaches but we have many isolated and unspoilt ones within the harbour even. then there's those in botany bay aswell. there's many!

Sydney is titanic but Melbourne is divine.

Where you been Vic? Haven't heard from you in ages.

Working in India. Good to be back Tic..I missed you guys!

Melbourne, Sydney comes a very close second. :)
If Sydney did not have such a high cost of living, I would say even.

Working in India. Good to be back Tic..I missed you guys!

Don't they have Internet in India?

Having lived in Melbourne and Sydney i would have to say Brisbane is my first choice!

Reasons?
Melbourne- too cold!
Sydney- It's Sydney, enough said

Don't they have Internet in India?

Don't be silly, they don't even have electricity. ;)

Melbourne of course...

Melbourne - Class all the way... :)

Having not actually visited Melbourne or Sydney before, I can't actually say which one I like better. But I can say that the one that I would visit first would be Sydney in an instant

Here's why...

I have always wanted to go to Sydney, it's the foreign gateway into Australia, it's where everything is at. Sydney (coming from a Westralian) seems to have it all plus much more. It has the opera house and the harbor bridge and then there is darling harbor. I'd love to climb the bridge! Looks fun, if expensive. All places that I want to visit. It has extended trading hours, lots of pubs and bars. I also like the title "Harbor City," it's just a cool quaint title.

In terms of melbourne, I have no reason to go there. At the end of the day, it (to me) just seems like an ordinary city. It doesn't offer me anything (except maybe a grandfinal at the MCG assuming eagles and dockers both get in :) ) I just can't think of a reason why i would go there (from a tourist perspective but please feel free to inform me, maybe it's just that Sydney is more advertised then melbourne)

To me, Melbourne seems more of a stereotypical City then Sydney, but I would still choose Sydney.

- PS- what is so bad about western Sydney?

where's the brisbane button?

Depends.

If visiting or on an income which meant I could live somewhere with a harbour view, then Sydney.

If on an average or below average wage, then Melbourne.

Depends.

If visiting or on an income which meant I could live somewhere with a harbour view, then Sydney.

If on an average or below average wage, then Melbourne.

Is Melbourne really that cheap?

WOW I didnt think $3.40 for a late` at Brunetti was cheap, but hey it must be.

Melbourne is so cheap I want to cry when I come back to Sydney.

Everything down there seems to be cheaper. From inner city parking (which in Sydney costs as much as a small house in Adelaide) to a cafe meal, which on occasion can be half the cost it is here in the Sydney CBD. Houses and flat rentals in Toorak probably make most Sydneysiders cringe at their relative affordability ... very cheap. It is true, life in Sydney has become a very overpriced joke and it is placing strain many residents.

Melbourne. MOST LIVABLE CITY IN THE HOLE WIDE WORLD, MAN.

We are like soooooo European in everything!!!1! Soooo much class.

We're more multicultural - our effnicks don't riot as much.

We're like the KULTURAL KAPITAL of Australia! We're like just oozing our culture all teh time.

Melbourne is ranked #1 in the McMadeupRadmomShitface Institute's List of Totally Awesome cities!

Also we've got a loads more fancy schmancy restaurants severing to upper middle class latte sippers.

Oh and our western suburbs are like wayyyy smaller man.

And plus we've got less terrorists Muslims than Sydney. That's gotta mean sumthing.

:rofl:

Although you deserve a slap in the head...

This city rivalry is stupid, but I voted melbourne and i'm not from melb or syd. I've lived in melb and I have rellies in syd that i've been visiting since i was a kid. My last visit to syd in march made me warm to the city much more and it felt like it had more of a 'melbourne feel'.

I've also lived in Europe and Japan and i can say that both cities measure up, but Melbourne has that something, the qualities of many great cities and that balance that adds up to the unique, congenial 'melbourne feel'.

MELBOURNE IS A DURTY HOLE! OF WHICH I SHIT ON. SYD IS THE KING OF AUSTRALASIA!!! CULWALLA LOCK THIS STUPID AS NOOB THREAD. INSECURE MOTHER F****** ! CHC EATS U ALL> SCANDALOUS HO**

Melbourne is so cheap I want to cry when I come back to Sydney.

Everything down there seems to be cheaper. From inner city parking (which in Sydney costs as much as a small house in Adelaide) to a cafe meal, which on occasion can be half the cost it is here in the Sydney CBD. Houses and flat rentals in Toorak probably make most Sydneysiders cringe at their relative affordability ... very cheap. It is true, life in Sydney has become a very overpriced joke and it is placing strain many residents.

Cafe prices in Sydney are a joke when it comes to food. I agree that in Melbourne you often pay half the price for cafe food, but to make matters even worse they give you fucking 'child portions' here as well. I paid $18 recently for bacon (2 rashes) and eggs (2 eggs) on toasted bread (2 slices) that was sliced so thin you could get 50 slices to a normal sized loaf, and a regular coffee. For that price in Melbourne, you'd have to leave on crutches lest your legs snap at the added weight in your belly.

And I'm not talking about Maisys, Avatar, which is famed for making you leave lighter after eating than when you came in, thanks mostly to the sheer volume of money you hand over the counter. :)

$18 recently for bacon (2 rashes)Ouch. $18 plus multiple skin disorders is rather expensive.

How many rashers of bacon did you get for that?

Ouch. $18 plus multiple skin disorders is rather expensive.

How many rashers of bacon did you get for that?

:lol:

Melbourne of course
You have no trams in Sydney :lol:

Mugley, do you ever go to bed? You seem to be posting all hours of the day and night.

They're both great, but for different reasons.

Mugley, do you ever go to bed?Let's just be friends.

Melbourne is winning :D