USS Melbourne

The USS Melbourne (NCC-62043) was a Federation  starship that was in service with Starfleet in the mid-24th century.

The Melbourne was one of three ships docked at Starbase 74 during the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)'s upgrade there in 2364. When the Enterprise was hijacked by a group of Bynars, the Melbourne was unable to pursue due to her repair status. The station's CO, Orfil Quinteros, initiated a rush repair schedule to get the vessel ready for pursuit, but the situation was resolved before the Melbourne was flight-ready. 

In late 2366, William Riker was offered the command of the Melbourne. While Jean-Luc Picard described her as "a fine ship," Riker decided not to pursue the commission at that time, choosing instead to remain aboard the Enterprise-D. 

Soon after, the Melbourne formed part of the forty-strong Federation task force that stood against an invading Borg cube at the Battle of Wolf 359. Early in the battle, it and the Saratoga engaged the cube, but its shields were quickly drained, and had half its saucer blown away by a cutting beam. The burning, lifeless hulk was then rammed by the cube as it pursued the Saratoga. Lieutenant Gregory Bergan was among the Melbourne's crew at the time. 

Never the less, When the Enterprise-D arrived in the system a few hours later, enough of the wreck survived intact and was one of the vessels recognized by Commander Shelby. 

Background information
According to the Star Trek Encyclopedia, the Melbourne was named after the Australian city of. Melbourne's founders arrived on a ship called.

The Star Trek Encyclopedia reveals that "there were actually two Starships Melbourne [...] the first was a model, barely glimpsed as a wrecked hulk in the spaceship graveyard from "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II", and the second was the clearly seen Excelsior-class one in "Emissary".

Apocrypha
The TNG short story "Trust Yourself When All Men Doubt You" in The Sky's the Limit establishes that the Nebula-class Melbourne was in fact under construction and intended to replace the Excelsior-class Melbourne. The Nebula-class Melbourne was the ship offered to Commander Riker. The Nebula-class Melbourne was launched early when the Borg attacked, and both ships were lost at Wolf 359.

Footage of the Melbourne's destruction is used to depict the destruction of the USS Righteous in the game Star Trek: Borg.