Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria, was originally founded in 1835, and currently has a population of over 5.5 million people. Melbourne has been voted several times as the world’s most liveable city, for reasons that include its diverse, vibrant culture, effective public transport network, and its public safety. Melbourne is often referred to as the gateway to the Asia-Pacific region, with frequent direct flights to destinations across Asia, America and the Middle East. Melbourne has long been considered the intellectual hub of Australia for education, research, and innovation, hosting leading universities, research institutions and industries. Melbourne features eight universities based in Victoria, several national institutions including the CSIRO, and industries run by several aerospace, manufacturing, and transport companies including Boeing, Thales, Siemens, BHP-Billiton, BlueScope Steel, etc.