Melbourne, City of Literature

Sydneyites (namely my cousin) used to say the only good thing to come out of Melbourne was the Hume Hwy. Unfair and untrue and in reflection of its world status, the city has been named a City of Literature (The Age).

Three days before the opening of the Melbourne Writers Festival, UNESCO has named Melbourne as its second City of Literature. Edinburgh became the first in 2004. The United Nations' cultural arm responded to an ambitious bid by the State Government that has as its centrepiece the establishment of the Centre for Books and Ideas at the State Library of Victoria. Arts Minister Lynne Kosky said the decision was confirmation of the value of a lot of people who have been working in the literature industry - writers and publishers and those who support writing and publishing.

Melbourne is a great place and this is well deserved in my view. Thanks to my Australian stringer for the tip.