Greek Quarter

22/10/2026

HIDDEN GREEK MELBOURNE | 06

One building.

Two very different stories.

And a remarkable connection to Greece.

Walk down William Street and you'll find the former Melbourne Mint, now home to the Hellenic Museum.

The former Royal Melbourne Mint was built between 1869 and 1872 and designed by architect J.J. Clark.

Its architecture is Renaissance Revival rather than purely Greek.

In fact, the University of Melbourne describes the building as being more Roman than Greek, with its design modelled on Raphael's Palazzo della Cancelleria in Rome.

But the building has since taken on a distinctly Greek role in Melbourne.

Since 2007, the former Mint has been home to the Hellenic Museum, founded by Spiros Stamoulis to preserve and promote Hellenic culture.

Today, the Museum's collection spans more than 8,000 years of Greek history, bringing ancient, Byzantine and modern Greek culture into the heart of Melbourne.

And that's what makes this building so fascinating.

Sources
Hellenic Museum, About Us
Hellenic Museum, Our Building
University of Melbourne, Pursuit, Finding the Hidden Hellenism in Melbourne

13/10/2026

What belongs on Melbourne’s walls? 🎨

We’re asking for your feedback on how we should manage graffiti while still supporting the city’s street art culture.

Our draft proposal outlines what should count as graffiti, who is responsible for removing it, and new locations for murals.

Learn more and have your say: https://bit.ly/4zlHZQO

11/10/2026

06/10/2026

Feast your eyes on this ✨

Sinigang prawn and perfectly seared scallop, on the side: a vibrant sour tamarind broth and crowned with salmon roe and smoked caviar.

Delicate, decadent and beautifully unexpected, it’s one of eight dishes waiting to be discovered on our Chef’s Set Menu, an unforgettable shared dining experience for $88 per person.

Come taste a little magic above Melbourne.

Book your table online. ✨

29/09/2026

HIDDEN GREEK MELBOURNE | 05

Melbourne has been borrowing from Athens for a long time.

Take a walk down Spring Street and you'll find one of the clearest examples.

Parliament House.

Its grand columns and classical design draw heavily on the architectural traditions of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds.

The building's design reflects the Doric order, one of the three major orders of ancient Greek architecture.

Look closely and you'll find columns, pilasters, triglyphs, metopes and other classical details.

The University of Melbourne notes that the facade even mimics elements of the Athenian Parthenon, reinterpreted in a 19th-century Melbourne setting.

Construction began in 1856, during the height of Victoria's gold-rush boom, and the building was designed to express the wealth and ambitions of the young colony.

And there is something particularly fitting about the classical inspiration here.

Ancient Athens is famously associated with the development of democracy.

Parliament House, built for a modern democratic government, can therefore be seen as a visual homage to the birthplace of democracy.

Of course, Victorian democracy was its own political tradition, shaped by its own history.

But the architectural language is unmistakably classical.

Columns.

Symmetry.

Monumentality.

A little Athens, hiding on Spring Street.

Sources
University of Melbourne, Pursuit, Finding the Hidden Hellenism in Melbourne
Parliament of Victoria, Construction of Parliament House
Parliament of Victoria, Architecture Tour of Parliament House

22/09/2026

No more card surcharges from 1 October

Heading to the Greek Quarter for a coffee, lunch, dinner or a night out?

From 1 October 2026, businesses across Australia will no longer be able to add a surcharge when you pay by eftpos, Visa or Mastercard.

That means when you’re enjoying the Greek Quarter, you won’t have an extra card surcharge added to your bill when paying with these cards.

17/09/2026

16/09/2026

No brainer… but which one are you choosing? 👀📱🍧

iPhone Duo worth $3,500 OR 234 Bingsus worth $3,500?

We know what we’re picking. 😏🍧💗

Tag someone who’d choose 234 Bingsus without hesitation! 👇

16/09/2026

A new season, a new menu, and a little more magic above Melbourne.

's Spring Menu has officially landed, celebrating fresh seasonal produce, bright Mediterranean flavours and dishes made for long afternoons that melt into golden rooftop evenings.

Pictured is their rich, comforting Moussaka, layered and baked until beautifully golden; their vibrant Beetroot & Feta Dip, creamy, earthy and made for tearing into with warm focaccia; our silky Prawn Risotto, finished with juicy prawns and delicate spring flavours; and their Pumpkin & Prawn Risotto, bringing together sweet seasonal pumpkin, succulent prawns and creamy risotto in every spoonful.

Fresh produce. Beautiful flavours. A new season on the plate. ✨

Come upstairs, find a seat beneath the Melbourne sky and taste spring at Fable.

Book online now and discover our full new menu on the website.