Climate, clothing & time zones

Victoria is located in the south-east corner of Australia and enjoys four distinct seasons:

• Spring (September to November) is mild and sunny with temperatures ranging from 10-20°C and frequent showers.
• Summer (December to February) tends to be warm and dry with day-time temperatures averaging 28°C, but reaching over 35°C during hot spells.
• Autumn (March to May) is generally mild with temperatures from 11-20°C.
• Winter (June to August) is the coolest period with the highest rainfall and temperatures averaging 8°C.

Average temperature in Melbourne is shown in the table below:

Month	Maximum temperature (°C)	Minimum temperature (°C)
January	25.8	14.2
February	25.8	14.5
March	23.8	13.1
April	20.2	10.7
May	16.6	8.6
June	14	6.8
July	13.4	5.9
August	14.9	6.6
September	17.2	7.9
October	19.6	9.4
November	21.8	11.1
December	24.1	12.8

(Source: The Bureau of Meteorology)

While there has been good rainfall in many parts of Australia recently, permanent water restrictions still apply throughout Victoria and in Melbourne (following a severe drought). You are required to use water thoughtfully. This can be achieved by having shorter showers, turning off the tap when brushing your teeth and only do a load of washing when you have enough for a 'full load'. For more information and ideas please visit Our Water, Our Future.

Weather conditions in Victoria vary and can be unpredictable from day-to-day or even in one day. It is recommended that you pack or purchase very light clothes for summer and warm and waterproof clothing for winter. You should wear layers of clothing.  In some regions of Victoria, the temperature in winter can approach zero or below, you will need warm clothing, such as thick woolen jumpers, and a coat, scarf, hat and gloves.

In Australia, people dress casually, but if you are to attend a job interview or special event, you may need more formal clothing. There is a large range of clothing available to buy in Victoria. In Melbourne, try Smith Street in Fitzroy and Bridge Road in Richmond for bargains on clothing and footwear. Check out our Cheap and Free (PDF 317KB)* brochure to find out where to buy clothes at cheap prices.

*If you require an alternate version of this content please submit an online request: Ask a Question Online.

Melbourne is in the Eastern Standard Time (EST) Zone, the equivalent to UTC (GMT) +10 hours. In October each year, daylight saving commences, and clocks are moved forward one hour at 2am EST. The end of daylight saving occurs the following March, and clocks are turned back one hour at 2am EST. For daylight savings dates and details, check VictoriaOnline.

Domestic electricity in Australia is 240/250 volts/50 Hz. The Australian three pin outlet is different from most other countries, so you may need to purchase an adapter plug for any electrical appliances you bring with you.

Transformers and adapters are easy to find in electrical appliance or travel goods stores. At Melbourne campus, you can also get them from the bookshop.