Discover street art
Street art is synonymous with Melbourne, every week thousands of local, interstate and international visitors explore street art in the city’s iconic laneways. Street art’s audience, appeal and accessibility is vast.
Wandering Melbourne’s laneways is the perfect way to encounter and experience street art across the city. A good place to start is the birthplace of Melbourne street art, Hosier Lane. You might even get to see an artist creating a new piece while you are there.
Want to create a mural in the city?
Street art can be legally applied where the Melbourne Planning Scheme permits, and property owner approval is granted (with some exceptions, see Hosier Lane info below). If you have a project you wish to realise, we recommend talking with our planning team to understand the requirements of the planning scheme for your preferred site.
Hosier Lane is a long-standing de facto ‘free-to-paint' area that does not require permits or permission. It relies on the understanding and appreciation of its value to the city by multiple authorities and stakeholders, including business owners, City of Melbourne, Victoria Police and Heritage Victoria.
Advertising or commercially motivated content is not supported in de-facto areas. Work deemed to be advertising under the Melbourne Planning Scheme will be removed at City of Melbourne’s discretion and may result in a fine. All advertising requires approval under the Melbourne Planning Scheme regardless of how it is realised and where it is placed.
Removal of unwanted tagging and graffiti
City of Melbourne seeks to prevent and remove illegal street art and graffiti as set out in our Graffiti Management Policy 2021. The Policy aims to deliver best practice graffiti management across the City of Melbourne municipality, taking into consideration Melbourne’s unique environment of being a capital city and having a rich history of street art culture.
Subject to budget, we may occasionally commission street art as part of graffiti management prevention and to brighten up dull spaces.
To find out more, visit Managing graffiti.
Related pages
Top image: Flash Forward - Drewery Alley - Nicole Reed
