Secret surprises of Melbourne, Australia

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/01/2023 (713 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There’s a saying in the city of Melbourne that’s popular among locals: “If you hide it, they will come.”

It could also be heeded as a pearl of wisdom for visitors to this cultural mecca, where some of the most intriguing treasures are off the beaten path and waiting to be found. Literally.

Melbourne’s hidden bar culture can be traced back to the days of prohibition. Beginning in 1910 and for the next nearly 20 years, alcohol sales were forbidden. This forced drinking establishments into secret spaces and underground places. Today, the spirit of the speakeasy is strong, and the practice remains alive and well. If, of course, you can find it. Literally.

The central business region is famous for narrow streets and alleys known as Melbourne’s ‘laneways’. It’s where cosmopolitan chic meets bohemian backstreets, multicultural flair is everywhere, and the coolness factor is off the charts.

It’s here that dozens of drinking dens are to be discovered, behind obscure doors, beyond bookshelves, under stairwells, and inside cupboards. Each has its own requirement for entry — perhaps by reciting a secret phrase, holding a special invitation, being guest-listed, or sometimes just the plain old luck of being in the right place at the right time.

There are more than just hidden bars tucked away amidst the mural-laden laneways. Other delightful findings include eclectic dining rooms, cozy cafes, specialty shops, and concept stores. You might come across art galleries, heritage sites, music spots, and lively markets. It really is the ideal district to wander around agenda-less, as you just never know what surprises you’ll encounter.

Some laneways pay homage to local heroes. Like Amphlett Lane, in honour of Chrissy Amphlett who fronted the Australian pop-rock band Divinyls. Or ACDC Lane (minus the ‘high voltage’ slash between the AC and the DC) named for Australia’s pre-eminent rock royalty. The band lived in Melbourne early in their career, where they wrote many hit songs. It’s also where they shot the now-iconic music video It’s a Long Way to the Top, traveling on a flatbed truck down the main thoroughfare of Swanston Street.

Melbourne also boasts a proud tradition of sport that has earned it national and international recognition as a global sporting capital. An integral part of life here, sports are accessible to all levels of athlete from amateur to the most elite. The well-developed and efficiently situated cluster of facilities supports and encourages participation in athletics, cricket, rugby, rowing, swimming, tennis, basketball, golf, and the list goes on. Including a sport that actually started here.

Melbourne is the birthplace of Australian-rules football and the present-day AFL (Australian Football League). Inspired by England’s game of rugby, Aussie football kicked off in 1858 as a way to help keep cricketers fit during the off-season. The Melbourne Football Club was founded that same year, sowing seeds that would eventually grow into the Victorian Football Association (1877) and the Victorian Football League (1896), which changed its name nearly a century later to the Australian Football League (1990).

Today, Melbourne lays uncontested claim to being the oldest football club in the world. Which is just one more cool but maybe not surprising fact about a city that’s full of surprises. Literally.