8A_L&A_Revitalization


 * Melbourne's Laneways and Arcades ** **Project compiled by Charlie, Velyan and Fred**  //Dedicated to Beth Jackson //

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Revitalization

More than a hundred years ago, at the turn-of-the-century, Melbourne's lanes, which had relished in the days of 'Marvelous Melbourne' following the Gold Rush of the 1850s, began to take a down turn. Laneways were often associated with crime and nuisance, with most people being too afraid to appear in at dark. They were dark dingy spots, filled with dens of gambling, opium smuggling and brothels, and many overseas immigrants lived in makeshift shanties, where disease was common. So with the introductory of internal service areas for rubbish to be collected instead of the past-used dumpsters in lanes (the original reason for lanes), and as people moved away from the city to live in the outer-suburbs where large regional shopping centers challenged that of the city's, lanes lost their main purposes. The government began to wonder if lanes were still valued in Melbourne, and if any deserved to remain, and with this, unfortunately, many lanes - and arcades - were demolished to make way for bigger, 'more prestigious' structures. Much culture was lost, with it, the historic buildings that made it.

But there was a change of mind. The government started to realize the rich culture and heritage than lanes held in Melbourne, and many businesses were encouraged to move away from the big main streets and take place in lanes. This 'revival' began towards the end of the 20th century, with the lanes newly paved with bluestone (as many were not previously paved at all), lighting put in place and street furniture being added to the scene. But it must be said, the most contributing factor in this revival was the Liberalised liquor laws. Before, you had to open a 400 to 1000-capacity venue to afford a license every year, as it was too expensive for a venue serving alcohol with any less capacity. The license now costs $567. 50, a fraction of the previous price.

And so, a flourishing bar and cafe culture sprung up and Melbourne's 'hidden laneways' became cool places to hang out. Nowadays Melbourne’s laneways continue to offer a variety of delights, populated by retail and other businesses, cafes and bars and street art, offering rare glimpses into the city’s history. The City of Melbourne has a proud history of public art, and its laneways provide the backdrop for a wide range of heritage and contemporary artworks. For more information on street art in Melbourne go to: http://mcscbd2010.wikispaces.com/Melbourne+The+Street+Art+Capital+Home, for the Street Art group of CBD.

To say that lanes had suffered in the period previous to the revival is somewhat an understatement. The entire CBD had lost its once ever-bright glow. There was low residence and that trip to the city didn't have the same excitement, as it had not much too offer. This article from The Age newspaper in 2003 sums up the situation Melbourne was in pretty well: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/06/03/1054406184471.html. Luckily, due to a host of reasons, the city has fought back. Residents in the city have climbed back up to 9500 compared to 700 residents in the 1980s, and some would say lanes are at their peak of interest at the current time.

But, as recently as the 21st of October, the problem had arisen again. The Age last month revealed that several lanes had been sold off, with the council believed to have pocketed $1.2 million in the past 12 months. And in the previous year, sections of eight historic lanes were sold to private developers, with the council earning $806,301. Many developers are planning to build large-scale structure on top of lanes, including on the site of the popular McKillop Street lane.

Something particularly peculiar that arose earlier this year was the news that 18 months prior Premier John Brumby and Tourism Minister Tim Holding had described graffiti in lanes in the CBD as a "blight on the city" and "not the way we want Melbourne to be promoted to a global audience". These statements were made as Tourism Victoria came out and re-created a graffitied laneway for a tourism expo in Florida. So it was surprisingly odd, when Planning Minister Justin Madden and Arts Minister Peter Batchelor praised street art in Hosier Lane and celebrated its 'heritage value'. A plan was put forward to try and protect street art of value, referring to the legal pieces of work not tags. The accidental removal of a stenciled rat by prominent English street artist Banksy and the naming of Melbourne's street art from the Lonely Planet tourism guide as one of the top cultural attractions in Australia prompted this move. So we ask, which way is street art heading in Melbourne, from this article, it is inconclusive.

Two structures recently built: QV Village opened progressively since 2003, and Melbourne Central, refurbished in 2005, has incorporated a new style of lane into their product. A cleaner, arcade like structure these have become.

Officially Known as Queen Victoria Village, but commonly named QV Village or QV Square (an open area of the structure) the new site is now finished construction. It is surrounded by Lonsdale, Little Lonsdale, Swanston and Russell Streets and across the road from the state library and Melbourne Central. It got its name from the Queen Victoria Hospital, as it was once located on the same site, the hospital being constructed in the 1860s designed in the gothic revival style, and was composed of several pavilions. The hospital closed in 1987, with the valued at AUD $63 million. Property developer David Marinner bought the site in 1992 for only $15 million, and all but three of the hospital pavilions were demolished the following year. There were many proposals for the site, including the site for the new Melbourne Museum (also considered to be constructed at Southbank and Carlton Gardens) and to integrate the heritage pavilions. The museum was chosen to be built at the Carlton Gardens site, so a scene of failed ventures occupied the QV site in the early 1990s, including a craft market, mini-golf course and skateboard rink, before it became a simple car park. The then Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett quoted the unused site in the middle of the CBD as a "bloody disgrace". Developers Grocon were chosen to design a $600 million 'urban village' on the site. There are four main buildings on the site, and the gaps between them were specifically designed for shop filled laneways, almost as to credit Melbourne's historic lanes and arcades. There are four main lanes in the compound: Jane Bell Lane, Albert Coates Lane, Artemis lane, and Red Cape Lane, all named after figures in medical history, as a reference to the hospital which previously occupied the site.

Albert Coates Lane was named after Sir Albert Coates OBE, a surgeon at the hospital in the 1920; Artemis Lane was named after Artemis, the goddess of forests and hills, and was the daughter of Zeus and Leto and one of the twelve Olympians of Greek mythology, which also acknowledges Melbourne's Greek community; Jane Bell Lane was named after Jane Bell, the matron of Royal Melbourne Hospital from 1910-1934; and Red Cape Lane named as a reference to the distinctive red capes that were worn by nurses at the Queen Victoria Hospital as part of their uniform.

Melbourne Central, a public transport hub in the CBD, is a major regional shopping centre and office. The shopping centre was refurbished in 2005, and the complex also contains the Melbourne Central railway station (a part of the City Loop underground railway and formerly called Museum), and the 211 m high office tower. But probably the most distinct feature of the complex would be the 50-meter high shot tower, now converted into a museum that sits below the huge conical glass roof. There are two lanes within Melbourne Central: Menizies Alley and Lane, both of which were built over when the centre was in construction. They are named after the famous Melbourne hotelier, Archibald Menzies, who opened his first hotel on the site in the 1800’s. Menzies Place is a unique precinct linking Melbourne Central to the adjacent Office Tower, which contains many popular shopping destinations. Menizes Alley is tucked behind the office tower and provides a good spot to eat.

While some classes of people may prefer these new, clean 'lanes' in popular shopping areas, they do not have the same feel or essence about them. You will find grey concrete walls, with no graffiti or posters, just sterile areas, lined by shops. The main focus seems to be on spending, and making everything nice and clean, but the lanes in these complexes feel rather fake. An interesting article in The Age newspaper compares the new 'simulated' lane with the original dirty alleyways of the CBD: http://www.theage.com.au/news/Opinion/Melbournes-love-affair-with-lanes/2004/12/31/1104344983928.html. So the question remains, should complexes like QV, Melbourne Central and Docklands be able to create these mall-like lanes at the price of our beloved backstreet ones. Our obvious answer is absolutely not.

Since 2001 Melbourne's Laneway Commissions project showcases an exceptional reflection of Melbourne’s culture and identity. The public art program has integrated itself into the commissions, which seek to transform Melbourne’s laneways into individually designed pieces of art. The annual productions of Melbourne’s Commissions aim to create a workspace for modern artists. The Artists are open to a wide variety of resources to expand the theme of their ideas. It is a popular program for people who work and live in the area. Laneways have exposed Melbourne’s history of art from more trad itional to the modern styles of art. Specific artworks have been gradually emerging, activating the city's laneways as popular destination for art enthusiasts, locals and tourism.

There have been various lanes and arcades which have hosted an art piece in the Laneway Commissions short history since 2001: [|Balcombe Place], [|Brien Lane] , [|Croft Alley] , Guildford Lane, [|Heffernan Lane] , [|Langs Lane] , [|Lingham Lane] , [|Lush Lane] , [|Smythe Lane] , [|Stevenson Lane] , [|Sugden Place] , [|Sutherland Street] , [|Union Lane] , [|Warburton Lane] , [|Westwood Place] to name a few. This year, three art projects were held in and around the CBD. //Public Writing,// a video work by Melbourne based artist Anthony McInneny; //MyStory, f//our self-guided audio and text tours, designed to take you on an immersive literary journey through some of the city’s most intriguing laneways; and Urbancodemakers, by combining the elements of a city treasure hunt and online gaming, it explores the ways in which urban space is contested.

Hopefully lanes and arcades hold there interesting place in the future of Melbourne's CBD for many years to come, and that the government shares the same opinion, because they add such a diverse dimension to the city which others may lack.

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