[2] Lonsdale Street was included in the grid developed by Robert Hoddle, the chief surveyor for the new settlement of Melbourne.

Whilst Lonsdale and other streets were originally designed at 99 feet, then Governor Richard Bourke initially objected to the large sizing.

[6] The Princess Mary Club opened on Lonsdale Street in 1926 and provided accommodation in the city for young women who would otherwise be unable to receive a tertiary education.

Melbourne Central, housing a railway station and shopping centre, opened on Lonsdale Street in 1991.

[8] Melbourne Central connects by a pedestrian sky bridge over Lonsdale Street to the Emporium centre.

From 2003, Queen Victoria Village, an integrated city block development consisting of residential units, retail outlets, and office buildings opened progressively on Lonsdale Street.

[9] West Side Place, a four tower mixed-use complex consisting of apartments, food and retail outlets was built on the former site of The Age newspaper headquarters.

[11] At the corner of Lonsdale and Russell Street is 24-hour Greek restaurant Stalactites, which is famous for being the celebration place of Cypriot tennis player Marcos Baghdatis during his 2006 Australian Open campaign.