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If Sydney and Melbourne were people, they would be non-identical twins.
Sydney is the pretty one, out-going with a sunny disposition. Sydney is everyone’s friend, easy to get to know, up for a party at any time and for any reason. Melbourne is introspective, intellectual and takes itself too seriously. It takes time to get to know Melbourne, you need to explore below the surface if you want to find its heart of gold.
Sydney is the older, but being one half of twins, not by much. While they were growing up, Melbourne looked like it was going to outshine Sydney. At the time it was known as Marvelous Melbourne, the city with the golden future. But the gold rush soon ran dry and Melbourne was left with a collection of grand, boom-town, buildings and a sense of expectation, always waiting, for the next big thing.
In the meantime, Sydney was growing up. With its natural beauty and generous nature it found it easy to shrug off its convict past. And beauty attracts indulgence, first came the elegant sweep of the Harbor Bridge, and then the Opera House, sitting like a stylish hat on the edge of the harbor.
Melbourne has always, secretively, looked up to Sydney but publicly there is rivalry. Sydney knows deep down that it lacks what Melbourne calls “traditions”. Melbourne has the Melbourne Cup, Ned Kelly’s amour, the Heidelberg School and football. Sydney knows it’s beautiful but suspects that there is not much substance.
But Sydney, being Sydney, shrugs off its worries about rivalry and lack of tradition and focusses instead on the rest of the world. It flirts shamelessly for attention and attracts millions of visitors to Australia each year.
In the end, Sydney and Melbourne both know they need each other. Sydney needs Melbourne for its uniquely Australian traditions and Melbourne needs Sydney’s world facing outlook and gregarious nature.
Two cities, together forever, the same but different.
