Two major Australian cities, two major international acknowledgements. This week, Melbourne was officially dubbed a City of Literature and Sydney was included as a ‘red’ property, along with London and New York, on the international edition of Monopoly. Which carries the greater kudos?

For Melbourne, being a City of Literature means the State Library will have a Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas added to its already impressive list of services and events. Events like the Bedside Book Club at Mr Tulk where readers exchange what’s on their bedside tables. Services like the use of chess boards and, of-course, the treasury of books available to read in exquisite surrounds.

Drop into the Library sometime soon to ponder whether we drew the short international-kudos straw. We’ll be there, reading Monopoly: the world’s most famous game – and how it got that way.