A huge installation inspired by the Parthenon has just opened in Melbourne

Designed by local architects Adam Newman and Kelvin Tsang, Temple of Boom is one-third the size of the ancient Greek citadel.

Temple of Boom at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne.

By Akash Arora

Updated December 9 2022 - 7:47am, first published 7:00am

Designed by local architects Adam Newman and Kelvin Tsang, Temple of Boom is one-third the size of the ancient Greek citadel.

An enormous installation inspired by the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens has just been unveiled in the gardens of the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne.

Temple of Boom at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne.

Designed by local architects Adam Newman and Kelvin Tsang, Temple of Boom is one-third the size of the ancient Greek citadel. Over the next few months, it'll act as an outdoor venue for a range of live events, from panel discussions to performances by DJs. There's also a VR experience, transporting visitors to the Acropolis in Greece.

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Temple of Boom at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne.

When hunger pangs strike, continue the grand European tour right in the heart of the Melbourne CBD by visiting the recently opened Freyja restaurant on Collins Street. Named after the renowned Norse goddess, the restaurant is housed in a towering 1880s building with soaring columns and does a fine trade in modern Australian cuisine that has been elevated using traditional Scandinavian techniques such as pickling, smoking and fermenting.

Temple of Boom at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne.

Words byAkash Arora

Akash is the Deputy Travel Editor for Australian Community Media. He has lived and worked in four cities around the world – Sydney, London, New Delhi and New York – and, at last count, travelled to 42 countries.

My all-time favourite destination is ... New York. You can drop a pin anywhere in Manhattan and start walking in any direction, and the sights and sounds of the city that never stops will begin to stimulate all your senses in an instant.

Next on my bucket list is … Scandinavia - at the peak of summer, when the sun almost never sets.

My top travel tip is … If you’re flying to Sydney from anywhere in the world, pick a window seat far from the wing on the left-hand-side of the aeroplane. If the weather gods and flight path align, you’ll have the most incredible views of the Sydney Harbour and Opera House.