Mount Melbourne lies in North Victoria Land, facing the Wood Bay of the Ross Sea. To the southeast lies Cape Washington and due south lies Terra Nova Bay; Campbell Glacier runs west from the volcano and Tinker Glacier lies north of the volcanic field. The seasonal Italian Zucchelli Station lies from the volcano, the Korean Jang Bogo Station and the German Gondwana Station are also in the area. The volcano and its summit can be accessed from the stations by helicopter. Mount Melbourne was first recognized as a volcano by James Ross in 1841 and named after then-prime minister of the United Kingdom Melbourne. The volcano and its surroundings were investigated by New Zealand based parties in the 1960s, by German ones in the 1970-1980s and by Italian-based parties in the 1980s-1990s.