Tour operator
Hidden Secrets Tours
Melbourne walking tour company founded by Fiona Sweetman in 2004, running small-group lanes and arcades, cafe culture, heritage and street art walks.
Melbourne Street Tours
Street art walking tours of the CBD and Fitzroy led by working street artists, based at Blender Studios and running tours and workshops for over a decade.
At a glance
- Type
- Street art walking tours
- Area
- West Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Official site
- melbournestreettours.com
Good to know
- Tours led by street artists
- Private tours
- Workshops
Why we recommend it
Melbourne Street Tours describes itself as the first, and only, street art tour company in Australia run by street artists. It is based at Blender Studios, 400 Spencer Street, West Melbourne, and has been running tours and workshops for more than ten years. Having practising artists as guides is the main reason to choose it, since the people showing you the walls are part of the scene that paints them.
The company runs several walks. The CBD Street Art Tour is based in the city centre, the newer Fitzroy Street Art Tour explores the suburb that the company calls Melbourne's colourful alternative hub, including a large selection of street art and some hidden pieces, and there is also an Arcade and Laneway Tour. The Fitzroy tour meets at the entrance to ACMI on Flinders Street at Fed Square, opposite Flinders Street Station; check the meeting point for other tours when you book.
Private tours are available from Monday to Saturday at a time you choose, with Sunday tours available for a ten per cent surcharge. Private groups can meet at ACMI or, on request and depending on location, be picked up from the CBD tour location. This option suits families, school groups, corporate teams and photographers who want to set their own pace.
Street art in Melbourne is constantly changing, which makes a guide especially useful. Hosier Lane, opposite Federation Square, has been treated for years as a de facto free-to-paint area where artists do not need a permit, so works are regularly painted over and replaced. In 2013 more than 100 artists repainted Hosier and Rutledge Lanes in a single event, and in 2020 masked painters colour-bombed the lane, covering many works. A tour led by artists gives context for what is on the walls on the day you visit, rather than what was there when a guidebook photograph was taken.
Wear comfortable shoes, bring a camera and allow for the tour duration given when you book. The tours suit solo travellers, couples and families with children old enough to enjoy a walking tour, and they pair well with independent visits to Hosier Lane and Centre Place.
Durations, start times and prices are listed on the booking pages of the official website. For questions, call 03 9328 5556 or 0416 971 707.
Melbourne Street Tours FAQs
Who runs Melbourne Street Tours?
The tours are run by street artists; the company describes itself as the only street art tour in Australia run by street artists.
Where do tours meet?
The Fitzroy tour and private tours meet at the ACMI entrance on Flinders Street, Fed Square; check the meeting point for other tours when booking.
Which tours are offered?
CBD Street Art Tours, Fitzroy Street Art Tours, an Arcade and Laneway Tour and private tours.
Can I book a private tour?
Yes. Private tours run Monday to Saturday at a time you choose, with Sunday tours available for a 10 per cent surcharge.
How long has the company been operating?
It has run tours and workshops for more than ten years.
Where is the company based?
At Blender Studios, 400 Spencer Street, West Melbourne.
Is there a tour of the arcades too?
Yes. The company also runs an Arcade and Laneway Tour.
How do I contact Melbourne Street Tours?
Call 03 9328 5556 or 0416 971 707.