The Temporary Masterpieces in Melbourne

If you research the top places to see in Melbourne, Australia, time and time again you’ll hear that you HAVE to walk to lanes. Oh, and spend time enjoying the “coffee culture”. Since I like both coffee and walking, I figured this was a “win-win” scenario. I expected to enjoy graffiti, while I sipped on a latte. What I didn’t expect, to see were the temporary MASTERPIECES in Melbourne. Let us show you around some magnificent pieces that won’t be around for long.

How it All Began

From the 1970’s – the 1990’s, Melbourne had an underground art scene where graffiti artists would “tag” trains, walls and bridges. Starting in the 2000, street artist began using crews to make intricate murals in the now famous laneways.

Graffiti vs. Street Art

Turns out, graffiti and street art are not actually the same thing. Maybe you already knew that, but I only just learned this fact. Graffiti focuses on things like a name, a tag or a crew. It’s about getting your name seen. And it is often done quickly to avoid getting caught.

Street art, on the other hand, is much more involved. It includes things like murals, stencils, paste-ups or entire art installations.

Most of what we saw was a mash up of the two styles.

Where to Go

While you’ll find a lot of the alleys in Melbourne are adorned, there are some that are famous for their art.

Hosier Lane

The largest, and one of the most famous is Hosier Lane. It’s right across from Federation Square, and if you’re lucky, you might even get to see an artist at work!

AC/DC Lane

Just a three minute walk from Hosier Lane, is AC/DC Lane. Much of the art there is music themed.

Union Lane

It is slightly less “touristy” and is packed with tags and layered pieces. It feels more like true graffiti culture.

Blender Lane

Near Queen Victoria market, this lane is considered a real hub for artists and has a good mix of graffiti and street art.

Walking Route from Queen Anne’s Market

Grab a squashy kangaroo hat and a latte before you head out at the Queen Anne’s Market. Start at Blender Lane, wander toward Union, walk to AC/DC and end up at Hosier. Keep in mind, it will likely get more crowded as you go along so early in the morning may be the best time to go.

Pro-Tip

The art changes constantly – sometimes OVERNIGHT. The best stuff is often in random side alleys near the more famous lanes. Rule of thumb: if an alley looks slightly sketchy…it probably has GREAT art!

Thanks so much for joining us on the “walk-about”. We’d love to hear about your adventures! Follow us on Facebook for our latest article and follow us in real time on Instagram.

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