.melbourne
| Status: | Proposed |
| country: | Australia |
| Registry Provider: | ARI Registry Services |
| Type: | GeoTLD |
| Priority #: | 350 |
More information: 
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.melbourne is a proposed GeoTLD in ICANNs new gTLD program. ARI Registry Services was selected by the government of the Australian state of Victoria to provide the technical registry functions for the extension. The government is contracting out other gTLD consultancy work to Melbourne IT.[1] ARI Registry services beat out a joint bid by CoCCA, Sedari, and Cloud Registry, which applied to run both .sydney and .melbourne.[2]
Application Details
The following is excerpted from applicant response to question #18:
"As the applicant for the .melbourne gTLD, the State Government of Victoria through its Department of Business and Innovation, Innovation and Technology Division (DBI) aims to connect individuals, businesses and groups in Victoria to other local, national and international businesses and markets and to promote Melbourne as a great place to live, work, invest, visit and learn. The application for the .melbourne gTLD has the full support of the State Government of Victoria and the Melbourne City Council, the Local Government of the City of Melbourne.
Greater Melbourne consists of the City of Melbourne and a further 30 municipalities, has an approximate population of 4 million people and is often referred to as “the cultural capital of Australia” (as mentioned in the Melbourne Tourist Guide, www.melbournetouristguide.com). Melbourne was ranked the number one city in “The Economist’s top 10 Worldʹs Most Liveable Cities” in 2011 (www.economist.com⁄node⁄21528162).
The registration of second level domain names within the .melbourne domain space will only be available to government bodies in Victoria and businesses and residents with a Victorian address. This restriction is imposed to ensure that the .melbourne gTLD is available to Victorian residents and to facilitate and encourage the availability of information relating to activities, businesses, community groups, organisations and government bodies related to Melbourne in an online space free from use that is illegitimate or inconsistent with the mission and purpose of the .melbourne gTLD. The .melbourne gTLD is intended to encourage innovation and growth by offering economic benefits on a macro scale, increased utilisation of technology resources and an increased opportunity for and facilitation of entrepreneurship by providing an online geo-distinctive presence and new marketing opportunities. This will benefit Internet users and promote competition in the marketplace
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Only eligible registrants will be able to register second level domain names in the .melbourne gTLD. Applicants must possess an address in the State of Victoria, Australia in order to register domain names. "[3]