Print this page

Murad Karrar

Through the course of my life, I have been fortunate enough to travel the globe and to live on four continents, all before I became 30 years of age.  Having lived in Melbourne for 11 years, it is easy to see why I call it home.  Melbourne is one of the most multicultural cities in the world with 3.6 million inhabitants from more than 240 nationalities and 80 different faiths.

Embracing the old and the new

Melbourne has successfully integrated the old with the new. It is where you can see the world’s tallest residential tower less than five blocks away from Melbourne’s oldest building: the St. Francis church on Lonsdale Street. Another example is the steel amalgamation of Federation Square across the street from the gothic-inspired St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Small town feel

What I love most about Melbourne is that fact that it still has the feel of a small town despite its big population. You can feel this most when you are at the Queen Victoria Market, with its history spanning over 130 years. It has come to resemble the bazaars of Turkey or the souks of Yemen. 
 
A city teaching art/culture appreciation

Here is where I first developed my love for art and culture. From its International Film Festival and Moomba Waterfest, to the Fringe Festival and the International Jazz Festival, Melbourne, with its abundance of film and music festivals, has significantly expanded my cultural awareness

Through Melbourne’s countless parks, I discovered my love for the beauty of nature. It is something that I took for granted until I travelled abroad and noticed that some cities rarely have parks as charming and friendly to their visitors. I have both seen and learned a lot from the world’s most liveable city, Melbourne.

Mr. Murad Karrar is a young leader, a current participant of the Future Focus Group and a member of the METI syndicate.