The Old Treasury Building

One of the most eye-catching pieces of architecture you'll come across when exploring Melbourne city, the Old Treasury Building dates back to the 1850's, and its impressive sandstone facade serves as a keen reminder of the differences between colonial and modern construction techniques. While historically built to house the state's gold vaults, today it functions largely as a museum showcasing a permanent exhibition featuring a number of key documents and artefacts from the Victorian Public Record Office. Visitors can view the original gold vaults, find out detailed information about the Victorian Gold Rush, gain additional background on Ned Kelly and much more. Given that it's entirely free, the Old Treasury Building also ranks as one of Melbourne's best things to do on rainy days for first-time visitors.