As its name suggests, East Melbourne lies just to the east of the Melbourne central business district, bordered in the north by the wide boulevard of Victoria Parade and to the east by Hoddle Street and the suburb of Richmond.

East Melbourne is home to a number of government offices, including Victoria's State Government, housed at Parliament House in Spring Street, with free tours of this historic building available to the public. A number of specialist hospitals are based in East Melbourne, while the skyline is dominated by the historic St Patricks Cathedral which is regarded internationally as one of the finest ecclesiastical buildings in Australia. A small commercial centre is located along Wellington Parade, servicing local residents in the nearby exclusive and wide tree-lined residential streets.

Around half of the area covered by East Melbourne is actually devoted to parkland or sporting grounds. The attractive 26 hectare Fitzroy Gardens encompasses many attractions including Captain Cooks' Cottage, a conservatory, a miniature Tudor village, the Fairies Tree, and several fountains and rotundas. The Treasury Gardens, on the corner of Spring Street and Wellington Parade, are popular due to their proximity to Melbourne's CBD and their grassy and shady slopes. The famous Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), dating back to 1853, includes a huge stadium which hosts many football and cricket matches, including the AFL Football Grand Final, as well as having been the main arena for significant international sporting events including the 1956 Olympic Games and 2006 Commonwealth Games.

	Parliament House Victoria's home of Government, with the building dating back to 1856
	City Museum at Old Treasury Discover the story of Melbourne through a myriad of diverse exhibitions which trace the people and events which helped shape Melbourne
	Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) Melbourne's favourite premier ground, hosting cricket and football matches
	Cooks' Cottage Originally built in England during 1755 by the parents of Australia's discoverer, Captain James Cook, the cottage was transported to Melbourne and re-assembled in the Fitzroy Gardens in 1934, providing an insight into English life during the 18th century and a celebration of the great explorer
	St Patricks Cathedral Architecturally impressive Catholic Church building dating back to he 19th century
	Fire Services Museum of Victoria Located in the former head office of the Melbourne Fire Brigade, the museum features Australia's largest collection of fire brigade memorabilia including uniforms, badges, fire fighting equipment and a souvenir shop

	Fitzroy Gardens Situated on a south facing valley and covering 26 hectares, the gardens feature mainly English trees, lawns and flower beds with several historic landmarks including a conservatory, small model Tudor village, Cooks Cottage and the Fairies Tree
	Treasury Gardens 6 hectares of lush gardens situated near the State Government Offices with an ornamental pond, monuments and statues
	Yarra Park The northern section of this park consists of of sloping, open grassed parkland with exotic and Australian trees, while the southern section surrounds the iconic MCG and Richmond Cricket Ground

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