Page:Victoria, with a description of its principal cities, Melbourne and Geelong.djvu/54

 a large building, used as a Club House; and not the least pleasing feature of the city is the kind consideration and hospitality shown by its members to visitors.

Large and massive stores of dark-blue stone arrest the gaze in every direction; they form a conspicuous part in a view of the city, and suggest, far more tellingly than words, the weight and importance of the great commercial interest of Victoria. These continue to be built, demonstrating the hope entertained, that Melbourne will maintain her position as the commercial metropolis of the south. Melbourne is tolerably supplied with places of public amusement, adapted for the tastes of all classes. The Theatre Royal, in Bourke-street, can vie in extent and interior arrangement with any in London. Here the opera was brought out this season, with Catherine Hayes as prima donna, and passed off with considerable éclat. The Queen's Theatre, in Queen-street, possesses a good local company; and Astley's Amphitheatre is an exceedingly well-arranged and tastefully decorated structure, bearing comparison with its prototype of London renown.

There are many minor resorts of pleasure and amusement in the city, which demand no particular notice. It would not, however, be just, when treating of the amusements of a great capital, to overlook the Cremorne Gardens, which will repay a visit even in the daytime. At night, during the summer months, entertainments are given similar in character to