Melbourne Street Art Walk (Central Melbourne)
In one of the world’s great street art capitals, the city itself feels like a canvas.
Explore the city's street art on this 3.2km (2 hour) walk.
Melbourne Street Art Walk Map
Since the 1990s street artists have filled Melbourne’s laneways with colourful murals, stencils, paste-ups and mixed media. Open to the elements, many of the artworks are temporary so there’s always something new to discover.
A great starting point is Duckboard Place (1), where the walls are full of gig posters and majestic murals. This small street is also home to world-class dining including Pastuso, Tonka, Garden State Hotel and Lee Ho Fook.
Continue into AC/DC Lane (2), named in tribute to the iconic Australian band. The rock’n’roll spirit is strong here, with tributes to guitarists Malcolm and Angus Young and a concrete figure of AC/DC’s original singer, Bon Scott, bursting through the brickwork.
Emerge onto Flinders Lane and head left across Russell Street to find the street art haven Hosier Lane (3). Every inch of this famous laneway is covered with art, and it’s likely you’ll catch an artist creating a work-in-progress. Grab a seat at MoVida or Tres a Cinco and watch it unfold.
Follow Flinders Lane over Swanston Street to find Adelaide artist Lisa King’s giant sleeping female figure commissioned for the outside wall of Brunetti’s at Flinders Way (4). Equally captivating is the legendary Italian cafe’s window display of cakes - pop in for coffee and a slice.
A few steps onwards are some of Melbourne’s most recognisable laneways. On the left is Degraves Street, a bustling hub of cafes crammed tightly together. Take a right into Centre Place, another magnet for paste-ups and artworks. Walk through Centreway Arcade to Collins Street, cross at the lights and bear right into the Collins234 building. Straight through the other side to Howey Place.
A few metres in you’ll discover the tiny Presgrave Place (5), home to Melbourne’s most unique small scale street art, with framed mixed-media works.
Walk out to Little Collins Street, turn right and take a left at Swanston Street and weave through the crowds towards Chinatown, then right into Little Bourke Street. Not far along is Tattersalls Lane (6), home to bars Section 8 and Ferdydurke, an abundance of cheap eateries, and street art on the walls of nearby buildings.
At Lonsdale Street, cross north at the lights, and bear left to find Drewery Lane (7), where a mosaic of handmade tiles honours the lane’s long-time resident, Legacy House. Created by the families and friends of war veterans, this evolving artwork, known as The Melbourne Legacy Centenary of Anzac Street Art Mural, is guaranteed to pluck at the heartstrings.
Turn left down Little Lonsdale Street, cross Elizabeth Street and turn into Sutherland Street, to find one of the newer street art showcases in the city. Guildford Lane (8). Of note is artist Mike Makatron’s ‘greening’ of an old electrical substation door, as well as the lane’s cafe society vibe. Try Krimper and Brick Lane or book in for a special petting session at the Cat Cafe.
Turn right onto Queen Street towards the Queen Victoria Market and admire the artwork in the laneway just over Franklin Street, at 436 Queen Street (9). Be sure to look up as large-scale murals cover both sides of the laneway.
Walk through the lane and back out to Franklin Street where you’ll reach your final destination, Blender Lane (10), filled with bright and provocative artworks.
Other Street Art Sites
Melbourne is as unique and changeable as its urban artistic expression. Keep your eyes open as you’re sure to make your own special discoveries along the way. Keen to discover more hidden areas of the central city? Check out these additional sites of significance:
Croft Alley
Access this winding laneway off Little Bourke Street in Chinatown to discover walls splashed with graffiti-style visuals and colourful murals.
Meyers Place
Find Mike Makatron’s stunning Jungle Funk mural, commissioned for the city’s Green Your Laneways project, at the Bourke Street end of Meyers Place.
Upper West Side Arts Precinct
Melbourne’s first official street art precinct is opposite Southern Cross Station. The precinct, curated by the Juddy Roller collective, showcases some of the biggest names in town including Adnate and Rone.
