Australia · State of Victoria · Melbourne
Southbank, Melbourne — Area Guide & Where to Stay
Southbank is an inner precinct of Melbourne, an arts quarter built around the National Gallery of Victoria and the Australian Music Vault.
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Where to stay in Southbank
The practical side of choosing where to sleep.
Southbank suits visitors who want galleries and theatres at the door. Hotels and serviced apartments gather near the National Gallery of Victoria and the Australian Music Vault, a short walk from central Melbourne, so evenings stay busy with people heading to a show. The arts precinct sets the tone.
If you come for a concert or an exhibition, a room here keeps the venues within walking distance.
Find hotels in Southbank
Direct booking searches for these neighbourhoods.
National Gallery of Victoria
Rooms beside the National Gallery of Victoria put its exhibitions and the arts precinct a few minutes on foot from breakfast.Find hotels in National Gallery of Victorialive-music nightsAustralian Music Vault
Stays near the Australian Music Vault sit close to the concert halls, an easy walk back after a late show.Find hotels in Australian Music VaultHotel links are affiliate links: booking through them may earn us a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never affects how places are ranked. How this works
Things to do in and around Melbourne
Ranked by global recognition; descriptions from Wikidata (CC0).
Museums & Galleries
3- National Gallery of Victoria Heritage
- Museum of Modern Art Australia
- Australian Performing Arts Collection
Churches & Religious Sites
3- St Luke's Church of South Melbourne Heritage
- Planetshakers Church
- St Eustathios' Church of South Melbourne
Landmarks & Notable Places
2- Abercrombie House Heritage
- Roy Grounds House
worth knowingacross 3 categories in and around Melbourne
About Southbank
What are the main landmarks in Southbank?
Southbank's landmarks lean toward the arts. The National Gallery of Victoria anchors the precinct, with the Australian Music Vault and the Australian Performing Arts Collection close by. More museums ring the district.
The Immigration Museum, the Victoria Police Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art Australia gather in and around Southbank, while the Melbourne Aquarium draws visitors nearby.
What is the history of Southbank?
Southbank grew into an arts and cultural quarter of Melbourne. Its cultural halls came first. The National Gallery of Victoria and the Australian Performing Arts Collection set the tone, later joined by the Australian Music Vault as a record of the country's music.
Older memorials remain, among them the Edith Cavell Memorial.
Where is Southbank?
Southbank sits within Melbourne, its arts precinct set around the National Gallery of Victoria and the Australian Music Vault.
Common questions
What is the best area to stay in Southbank?
National Gallery of Victoria: gallery-goers. Australian Music Vault: live-music nights.
Good for
More areas in Melbourne
Updated October 2026