How to Find the Best Street Art in Melbourne for 2024

How to Find the Best Street Art in Melbourne

Melbourne is prolific when it comes to art, and sometimes the best pieces can be found on the street. We’ve done the hunting and put together a list of the best places to find street art in Melbourne – including where to find the city’s only Banksy. Enjoy!

Updated: September 2, 2023

Taylor
I lived in Melbourne for 10 years and loved wandering around the laneways and discovering the street art.

Hosier Lane is the darling of the Melbourne graffiti scene, almost entirely covered in street art. Regularly featured in tourism campaigns, it’s come to symbolise Melbourne’s entire laneway scene.

You’ll regularly see artists working on new pieces; you could return a week later and see new art pieces.

The back of Culture Kings in Hosier Lane.

The most impressive artwork is 50 meters (164 ft) high on the back of an office building. This untouchable portrait of an indigenous boy is by local artist, Adnate.

Down Hosier Lane you’ll also Movida and Bar Tini – both Spanish tapas bars from the same operator.

Yes, Hosier Lane is the most ‘commercial’ laneway in Melbourne. But due to its central location just across from Federation Square, – it’s super easy to check off your bucket list.

The view of Adnate's portrait of a young Aboriginal boy, seen from Hosier Lane.

Drewery Lane is a small lane, but filled with a few secrets. The biggest piece of art you’ll see is from Lushux, and it’s a giant mural of Kim Kardashian and model Emily Ratajkowski – painted by infamous artist Lushux.

AC/DC – arguably one of the world’s greatest rock ‘n’ roll bands – spent their early days in a share house in St Kilda.

In 1976 they drove down Swanston St and shot a film clip for It’s a long way to the top on the back of a ute. Needless to say, they are Melbourne icons.

The Bon Scott art piece down AC/DC Lane.

Previously ‘Corporation Lane,’ this laneway was renamed ACDC Lane in the early 2000s. It is now a hub for street art and fine dining.

Among the graffiti, there is a 3D installation of Bon Scott ‘bursting’ through bricks. As well as a 30-metre painting of a young man carrying a tree.

Come back at night to experience some laneway restaurants and bars.

Graffiti lines the walls of Croft Alley.

Chinatown is no stranger to laneways, but this one is slightly different. Croft Alley winds off Little Bourke St and is covered in street art. There isn’t anything down there; it used to be home to Melbourne’s first laneway bar, The Croft Institute.

Connected to AC/DC Lane is Duckboard Place, another great laneway to view some street art. There are some giant wall pieces, but the most notable is much smaller.

This is the only place to view Melbourne’s only remaining piece by infamous street artist Banksy. You can find them in the far South Eastern corner – look for two parachuting rats in the door frame.

Another Banksy stencil down Duckboard Place.

Banksy Facts:

Throughout the early 2000s Banksy left several art pieces through out Melbourne, unfortunately almost all of them have been destroyed. One was demolished during construction, while another was intentionally painted over.