It was designated by UNESCO in 2008 as the second City of Literature,[1] after Edinburgh.
In 2014, the Melbourne City of Literature Office was established, directed by David Ryding.
[2] The Office is hosted at the Wheeler Centre and is dedicated to supporting Melbourne as a City of Literature through one-off programs and projects, partnerships with the literary sector, and international exchanges with other UNESCO Cities of Literature.
[1] The Melbourne City of Literature Office is funded by Creative Victoria[3] and the City of Melbourne.
[3] In 2017, the Office was awarded a "gold star assessment" from the UN.