I’d been told that Melbourne is a city for getting lost. I didn’t really understand what this meant. Most cities direct you to places to go, especially as a visitor. You do your exploring, for sure, but you usually have a pretty set idea of what you want to see.
Sydney is a good example. You have the iconic Sydney Opera House, charming Darling Harbour, glamorous Bondi Beach. The sights are right in front of you, and you will pretty quickly feel what it’s like to be in Sydney.
Melbourne had its things too – Queen Victoria Market, Federation Square – but I wasn’t as sure about how I’d spend my time there. I started wandering through some of the city’s laneways, little lanes and alleys full of street art, small cafes, and more.
Melbourne is famous for its laneways, and some, like Centre Place, are bustling with tiny restaurants and shops. Centre Place is right by Flinders Street Station, the central train station in Melbourne, so it’s right in the heart of the city.
Other laneways, like Hosier Lane, are known for their street art. It’s one of the laneways that first helped make Melbourne one of the street art capitals of the world.
As you continue exploring, you start finding more. In this laneway, there were a few street artists working on a new piece. There was also something easy to miss – the word ‘CROFT’ with an arrow pointing to the right.
Following the sign, you get to The Croft Institute, a lab-themed bar where the drinks are served with syringes. It’s a creative, different experience. I started to get why it was rewarding to walk around and explore Melbourne.
I walked through some more laneways as well as arcades, walkways that are sort of like indoor laneways. I saw quirky stores like Sticky Institute, a shop for zines.
But, there are great, interesting places in every city. An innovative bar, an alley with street art, a zine shop – those aren’t unique to Melbourne.
It wasn’t until seeing the exhibition space ‘The Dirty Dozen’ that I was able to grasp just what it is that makes Melbourne a bit special. It’s an underpass below Flinders Street Station that has art pieces displayed along the wall behind glass, and in its description, stated:
“In keeping with Melbourne’s love affair with hidden spaces, the display cabinets both surprise and attract people to one of Melbourne’s oldest commuter underpasses.”
That made so much sense – a love affair with hidden spaces. I began to see how Melbourne valued its ability to hide amazing places right under your nose. Other cities might have interesting streets and local businesses, but in Melbourne there is a fascination with the hidden.
It’s the magic of uncovering something. People are proud of Melbourne’s places underneath the surface, between the gaps, in the nooks and crannies. It shows in businesses like Beneath Driver Lane, an underground bar on Driver Lane.
Or Easey’s, a burger restaurant in converted trains on a building. You might not notice the trains at first, and you probably wouldn’t be sure that were accessible. But once you see them, you’re curious.
I think that’s what makes Melbourne such a great place to get lost. It’s a love for hidden spaces that creates a feeling of curiosity. It makes you want to explore.
Because the best parts of Melbourne are scattered all around you. You just have to find them.
