Lanes and arcades of Melbourne

The city's oldest laneways are a byproduct of Melbourne's original urban plan, the 1837 Hoddle Grid, and were designed as access routes to service properties fronting the CBD's major thoroughfares.

[3][page needed] By the 1850s gold rush, Melbourne had over one hundred lanes, some of which became associated with the city's criminal underbelly, notably those in the Little Lon district.

Recognised today for their heritage value, they frequently feature in tourism promotions, and attract visitors from throughout Australia and the world.

Melbourne's Lord Mayor John So launched ACDC Lane with the words, "As the song says, there is a highway to hell, but this is a laneway to heaven.

[5] Corporation Lane was chosen for renaming in part because the band filmed the music video for "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" on Melbourne's Swanston Street.

Other factors given include: AC/DC's status as cultural ambassadors for Australia, the band's ties to Melbourne, and the lane's position in the city's bar district.

The lane was developed in the 1990s following the location of Victoria University to the inner city campus and has a heritage building which was restored in the late 1990s on the eastern entrance and some converted warehouse lofts apartments.

The lane is bitumen with a small strip blue stone cobbled gutter, has suspended overhead lighting and is unused by vehicular traffic.

The arcade which was erected between 1891 and 1893 was designed by architect David C. Askew whose brief was to produce something similar to the Galleria Vittoria in Milan.

The result was one of Melbourne's most richly decorated interior spaces, replete with mosaic tiled flooring, glass canopy, wrought iron and carved stone finishings.

The exterior façade of the six-storey office has near identical facades on Collins and Elizabeth Streets and is one of Australia's best surviving examples of the Victorian Mannerist style.

A consortium involving Myer and Colonial First State applied for exemption from the City of Melbourne Heritage Overlay to widen the lane by 4 metres to improve access for delivery trucks and in the process demolish the art deco landmark Lonsdale House in 2009.

[14] Permission was granted by both the City of Melbourne and the State planning minister Justin Madden MP on 24 July 2009 under controversial circumstances.

Until 2004, Caledonian Lane was home to a number of small independent store owners, however the buildings were sold under vacant possession in 2007.

The lane is bitumen with a small strip blue stone cobbled gutter, has street lighting attached to Lonsdale House and is by both pedestrian and vehicular traffic, mainly delivery trucks.

The arcade is fully covered by stained glass and leadlights, which forms a highly detailed arch leading to a central dome.

The art deco arcade, which dates back to 1925 is part of the Nicholas Building designed by Harry Norris, is an early interwar palazzo skyscraper.

A vista is created at either end by the Emporium Melbourne on Bourke Street Mall and at the other by the postmodern facade of the Novotel on Collins.

It was named after Charles and William Degraves, pioneer merchants who settled in Melbourne from Hobart, Tasmania in 1849.

The lane features bars, cafes, and restaurants and many of the taller old buildings have been converted into loft style apartments in the 1990s, adding further life to the street.

The street was the centre of Melbourne's rag trade for the middle decades of the 20th century and is still home to small boutique designers.

Healeys Lane' is a cobblestone laneway in the central business district (CBD) of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

[23] Hosier Lane is a bluestone cobbled vehicular and pedestrian laneway on the southern edge of the central city grid.

[24] Hosier Lane lies opposite the entrance to the Atrium at Federation Square on Flinders Street, a prominent position in the city.

An open air cooking session with MoVida's chef Frank Camorra on Masterchef Australia season 2 showcased the lane as a major Melbourne attraction.

The lane is named after the Niagara buildings, early 20th century warehouses which feature their row of original pulley and hook stocking systems from horse and cart days.

The lane is lined by pre-war buildings, is cobbled in bluestone and is accessible to pedestrians and small vehicles.

The lane is paved with red brick, has several trees and heritage style lampposts along it and restricted access to cars.

Originally designed by Charles Webb, the arcade features a high glass roof and windowed stores.

At the south end, the arcade features effigies of mythical figures Gog and Magog and a clock which chimes each hour.