Mr Simon Robinson

I was lucky enough to be offered by Business in the Community UK a secondment to work with the Committee for Melbourne. Of course, I jumped at the chance to spend three months in Melbourne. Two years later, I’m still here and it looks like I’ll be here for at least a couple more.

I came to Melbourne to conduct a feasibility study for starting up Melbourne Cares, which obviously went very well. Business has welcomed what we’re talking about and is interested in what we want to do. I’ve noticed Australian businesses can in some cases take a long time to make decisions, but then passion for Melbourne is quite evident. People really love Melbourne, which has to be good for the city. If people are passionate about something, they’ll go above and beyond for it.

I grew up in Doncaster, a small mining town in South Yorkshire in Northern England. I love the fact there is a suburb called Doncaster in Melbourne, too. Yorkshire folks are known for their open, friendly and down-to-earth nature and I think I am no different. If you have seen the movie, ‘The Full Monty’, set in South Yorkshire, you will know what I’m talking about. I have also lived in London, though I’d never want to live there again.

On the contrary, my impressions of Melbourne have been very positive. The climate here is most definitely better than England’s. Like most Brits who watch the box, I had expected Melbourne to have hot weather all the time but I find it refreshing that there’s variation in the climate.

I also like the friendliness of the people. They are very welcoming and prepared to go out of their way to help newcomers. There’s also a nice tolerance and openness about Melbourne. You wouldn’t see too many lesbians comfortable about walking down a street, hand in hand, in many big cities around the world. Saying that, I’ve found that it takes a little while to be accepted and in order to be accepted, you have to prove yourself. I think this is because Melbourne is a big city in a country which has a small population and therefore the city’s networks are small and tight.

Then again, Melbourne has a ‘big-city’ feeling without being overwhelming or intimidating for visitors. There’s an interesting mix of spectacular architecture like the Eureka Tower and Federation Square and this modernity is complemented by attractive Victorian and other-era buildings.

Something else I like about bricks-and-mortar Melbourne is its CBD grid layout. This and the public transport – particularly the trams – mean it’s an easy place to quickly get your bearings and find your way around. I lived in London for three years and it is a big, geographically complex city with a complicated public transport network that’s overwhelming for newcomers. I prefer to get on my bike and Melbourne’s combination of flatness and a great system of paths and tracks makes for a very bike-friendly place.

I also enjoy the fact that there’s so much going on in Melbourne, culturally, it’s awe-inspiring. You may be at the bottom of the world but you don’t feel you’re far away from anything. Maybe it is because Melbourne is a relatively ‘new’ city that it seems like there’s a constant flow of creative energy and people coming through it.

I think Melbourne’s unique in that it has a variety of what I call subcultures or mini-ecosystems – different areas, each with their own distinctive style. There’s bohemian Brunswick Street, glitzy Toorak and somewhere in between, St Kilda, to name but a few. Other cities are lucky to have a handful of these.

It’s no coincidence that I have become a coffee snob since I moved here. I never knew coffee could be so good. I’m also now more adventurous in the food I try. I can walk my way around the world through Melbourne’s restaurants. There’s a wider variety of restaurants in Melbourne than in any city I’ve lived. The quality of food, standard of service and all-round value is better than anywhere in the UK.

I think Melbourne is on the brink of moving up a notch internationally but to do this, the city needs to think bigger and gain more confidence. I’m not sure Melbourne blows its own trumpet enough. It may not have iconic structures like other cities but it should be recognised for being attractive, dynamic and a city which is easy to live in and get around. All in all, Melbourne is a good place to be, really. I don’t think I’d still be here if this were not the case. Ultimately people make a place and if you don’t feel a sense of warmth from people, you won’t build a sense of belonging. Cities are just buildings without people.

Simon Robinson is CEO of Melbourne Cares, an initiative of the Committee for Melbourne to enable business, communities and government to work together to sustainably improve the quality of life for the people of Melbourne and in particular those in most need.

Committee for Melbourne Members which have become Founders are ANZ, Accenture Australia Ltd, City of Melbourne, Connell Wagner, Ernst & Young, Macquarie Bank, Rio Tinto, Seven Network, and The Age. South East Water is a Gold Supporter of Melbourne Cares and Communications & Public Relations a Silver Supporter.