CBD Street Art At Night: When Street Lights Become Spotlights

This tour explores the transformational power of nighttime to reinvent several tourist street art hotspots into spaces of contrast, mystery, depth and interactivity. During the day, these spaces are frequented by tourists, artists, and pedestrians and are full of life and colour. At night, many of these spaces are stripped on their vibrancy, and the focus shifts onto the detail of the space, the stark contrast between light and dark, and the heightened effect of other senses, particularly sounds and smells.

The tour begins in Hosier Lane, often touted as one of Melbourne’s “premier” street art laneways. A melting pot of styles and activity, Hosier and Rutledge Lanes often remain bustling spaces at night, and act as an introduction to the dynamic world of street art at night. After traversing the city, the tour culminates in Finlay Lane, a space of isolation and quiet. At night Finlay Lane represents the other end of the spectrum, where small details are highlighted and “forgotten” or derided works are given focus.

Please note that while Melbourne is a generally safe city, travelling through these laneways at night can be dangerous. It is not recommended that you undertake this tour alone or after 10pm.

Hosier Lane and Rutledge Lane

Begin the tour at the southern end of Hosier Lane, just off Flinders Street, at about 6pm (or just after sunset). Hosier Lane is abuzz with people: workers travelling home from the city, tourists photographing the diverse collection of street art,…

Croft Lane

As you head north along Russell Street, appreciate the cityscape at night: hundreds of city-goers travelling through the CBD oblivious of the countless artworks hidden in shadowy corners and behind buildings. Croft Lane is a narrow, dark laneway,…

Union Lane

Head south-west along Bourke St towards Union Lane, another famous street art hotspot. Where Hosier Lane is known for its larger, more 'considered' pieces, Union Lane is known for being less uniform and more of a 'free-for-all'.…

Literature Lane

The section of Literature Lane to the south of Little La Trobe Street presents two artworks that exemplify the transformative nature of night and darkness. To the west, a mystical woman lords over a walkway, her arms open wide. During the day, she…

Finlay Lane

Leaving Literature Lane and heading west along Little Lonsdale Street, you will stumble across Finlay Lane. Often forgetten and left off street tours, Finlay Lane is a deliberate end of this particular tour, as it presents a unique aspect of street…