From Hosier Lane, Croft Alley, AC/DC Lane and Graffiti Lane, here’s where to see Melbourne’s best street art. Leave no laneway mural un-photographed on this self-guided street art walking tour. Includes Melbourne street art map.
Melbourne has it all. It’s simultaneously charming with its old Victorian buildings and has a welcoming international appeal thanks to the numerous ethnic communities which give Melbourne its incredible culinary scene and diversity. Home to the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground), Australian Open tennis tournament, and Australian Grand Prix, you’ll find its sports-mad and coffee-obsessed locals living their best life in one Melbourne’s many hotspots. From refurbished warehouses, themed rooftop bars and colourful laneways brought to life with world-class street art.
Growing up on the Mornington Peninsula (an hour south of Melbourne city), I spent my early adult years working in the heart of Melbourne (what we locals call the CBD aka Central Business District). Located just off Degraves street – one of Melbourne’s quintessential laneways – was where I started my language learning journey and where I learned Italian.
Dubbed the most ‘European’ of Australian cities, one of the best ways to see Melbourne is by exploring its incredible street art. Here are 19 places where you’ll find the best street art in Melbourne.
Map of Melbourne Street Art Walking Itinerary
Tip: For a larger view of the map, click on the icon in the top right corner.
Click on this interactive map and see where this itinerary will take you. I’ve created this map using Google Maps which you can save and use as you travel around. Click on any pin for more information.
- Stops: 19 locations
- Duration: 3 hours approx. Don’t have time for the full three-kilometre trek? Break it up into mini adventures next time you’ve got a spare 20 minutes or so.
- Distance: 4.5 km
- Good to know: Melbourne’s street art changes almost as often as its weather, so you’ll always see something new. With that in mind, the artwork featured in this Melbourne street art guide may not be there when you visit. If it’s not, rest assured that it’ll be covered with even more awesome artwork.
- Travel tip: Want to learn the story behind Melbourne’s best street art? Join this street artist-led walking tour.
1. Degraves Street
Start this self-guided street art walk in Degraves Street. This narrow laneway is bustling with trendy and independent shops, cosy Italian cafes with outdoor seating under huge umbrellas and serve some of the best coffee in the city. Whilst you’re here, pick up a Flat White coffee. Did you know the Australian Alan Preston, invented the Flat White?
The Centre for Adult Education campus (aka CAE), where I used to study Italian is also located here in this bustling art deco laneway.
2. Hosier Lane
Mural by Adnate
Mural of the Phillip Island Penguin Parade
Mural of the Phillip Island Penguin Parade
Considered the heart of Melbourne’s street art scene, Hosier Lane has some of the most impressive examples of street art. Support the community and grab a famous Melbourne Coffee from the Good2Go Youth Projects cafe and wander along this colourful laneway. My personal favourite is the massive mural of an Aboriginal boy and the mural dedicated to the Phillip Island Penguin Parade.
3. AC/DC Lane
Jimi Hendrix mural
AC/DC’s Bon Scott
Located just off Flinders Lane, this short and narrow street runs right through a part of the city bustling with rock ‘n roll bars and venues, including Cherry Bar, one of Melbourne’s most famous rock joints.
Originally called Corporation Lane, in 2004 The City Council unanimously voted to rename the street AC/DC Lane as a tribute to the city’s enduring love for its favourite Australian rock band, AC/DC.
Melbourne’s Lord Mayor John So launched AC/DC Lane with the words, “As the song says, there is a highway to hell, but this is a laneway to heaven. Let us rock.” Bagpipers then played “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll).”
World-famous street art artist Banksy, also left his mark on these walls, unfortunately, they were displaced over the years. If you’re a Banksy fan, check out my Bansky street art walking tour in this hometown of Bristol.
Every nook and cranny of this laneway is covered with incredible street art, making it popular with locals, tourists and photography based tours. There’s always a crowd here, so take your time and be patient.
4. Duckboard Place
Tribute to Malcolm Young
Located at the end of AC/DC Lane, Duckboard Place is a continuation of this iconic laneway with an even more iconic mural at the end of it. Painted onto the side of a brick building is a huge vertical mural of a light blue ribbon wrapped around a rose vine with ‘Melbourne’ written on it.
This back alley was once the playground of World War II troops who came here to be entertained. Today, you’ll find thought-provoking street art including a tribute to Malcolm Young, alongside a variety of excellent international eateries. Choose from the innovative Chinese restaurant Lee Ho Fook, the Indian-inspired flavours of Tonka, and the Danish steakhouse A Hereford Beefstouw.
5. Beaney Lane
This short laneway just off Russell St is home to a mix of street art and detailed portraits including an Avatar-like female by Heesco.
6. Strachlan Lane
Strachlan Lane is an unassuming laneway located just off Exhibition Street. At the entrance is a towering collaboration mural with Adnate and Vincent Fantauzzo. Further along is the rabbit from Alice in Wonderland keeping time.
7. Meyers Place
Jungle Funk Mural by Mike Makatron
Commissioned for the city’s Green Your Laneways project, you’ll find a beautiful mural by Mike Makatron entitled, Jungle Funk
8. Mcilwraith Place
As you exit Meyers Place onto Bourke Street, head towards Mcilwraith Place. Here you’ll find a colourful mural of a galah and bee near the entrance to the parking garage.
9. Coromandel Place
Aboriginal Land mural by Ghostpatrol
Just off Little Collins Street, Coromandel Place is home to large scale street art by local artists. On the right-hand side are a series of red shapes and figures by Al Stark. Located at the end of the lane on a two-storey building is a mural by Tasmanian-born artist David Booth, aka Ghostpatrol.
10. Croft Alley
In the heart of Chinatown is Croft Alley with walls that are dizzyingly busy with tags and graffiti-style art. Come back in the evening and go to The Croft Institute located here. This science lab-themed is one of my favourite cocktail bars in Melbourne.
11. Presgrave Place
You’ll find a special kind of street art here in Presgrave Place. Alongside its murals is a collection of framed art, featuring photographs, posters, stickers and works made from recycled materials. Get up close to the artworks and notice their detail and subtle messages.
12. Union Lane
Connecting Little Collins Street and Bourke Street Mall is the long and narrow Union Lane home to countless vibrant tags and graffiti-style art.
13. Tattersalls Lane and Stevenson Lane
Mural by Adnate
Mural by Nelson Cekis
Located above Section 8, another favourite hangout is a 2012 portrait of a woman with feathers by artists Adnate and Shida. Directly below is Stevenson Lane with a vibrant abstract mural by Chilean artist Nelson Cekis.
14. Drewery Lane, Drewery Place and Sniders Lane
Mosaic of Sir John Monash
Mosaic of Stanley Savige
Skip across to Drewery Lane and its side streets Drewery Place and Sniders Lane. On Drewery Lane itself, you’ll find a moving tribute to war veterans created by their families and friends. A series of mosaics made from handmade tiles decorate this narrow laneway which features special dedications to Sir John Monash, a civil engineer and an Australian military commander of the First World War; and Stanley Savige who fought in World War I and World War II. This mural has come to be known as The Melbourne Legacy Centenary of Anzac Street Art Mural.
Kim Kardashian and Emily Ratajkowski selfie
At the end of Sniders lane is a 30-foot mural of Kim Kardashian and Emily Ratajkowski in the famous naked selfie they posted on Instagram. Within just two days, Australian street artist Lushsux painted this mural showing these famously beautiful ladies flipping you off.
On Drewery Place, you’ll be redeemed with a Renaissance-style image of Adam and Eve and cupid.
15. Guildford Lane
One of the rare corners of the city which retains its industrial heritage, Guildford Lane is now a green oasis lined with plants, vines and cafes. It’s most noteworthy street art here is by Melbourne based artist Mike Makatron who painted a mural on an old electrical substation door. While you’re here, grab a bite at Krimper Cafe or Brick Lane, or cosy up with some friendly felines at the Cat Cafe.
16. Flanigan Lane
Just around the corner from Guildford Lane is Flanigan Lane with a gorgeous mural of a black and white portrait.
17. 223 Franklin Street
Opposite Queen Victoria Market down, this laneway is one of the most striking street art murals in the city. It’s most striking piece is a portrait of a pretty girl – a collaboration by portrait artists Adnate and Swaze.
18. 436 Queen Street
This lesser-known and unmarked laneway is full of vibrant murals and stencils, paste-ups that cover both the walls and also include the ground!
19. Blender Lane
Blender Lane is perhaps the most important laneway for street art as it holds a special place in the local street art community. It was here that the now-relocated Blender Studios was based. Blender Studios is an urban art and fine art studio that played a key role in the development of Melbourne’s street art movement. It’s here that you’ll find a range of styles not seen elsewhere on this Melbourne street art itinerary.
This lane might be short, but it’s chock full of colourful cartoons and pop culture murals making it one of the most important lanes to visit for street art.
Want something a bit more organised? Join this Melbourne street art tour led by a street artist and enjoy a leisurely stroll around Melbourne’s best street art.
Got more time? Join a tour!
- Fitzroy Street Art Tour
- Melbourne Lanes and Arcades Walking Tour
- Melbourne Complete Walking Tour – Like to sell out!
- The Best of Melbourne Bike Tour
- Melbourne City Sights Kayak Tour
- Melbourne Bike Tour with Lunch
- Melbourne Beer and Brewery Tour
- Melbourne Dumpling Walking Tour
- Sports Lovers Tours of Melbourne
- Melbourne Coffee Lovers Walking Tour
- Mornington Peninsula Day Trip Including Visit To Boutique Winery
- Phillip Island and French Island Wildlife Expedition
Planning a trip and need travel insurance? Get a free quote from World Nomads here.
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Over to you!
Do you have a question about visiting Melbourne? Have you visited these street locations in Melbourne? What else would you add to this list? Let me know using the comments section below or join me on social media to start a conversation.
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