“Melbourne is home to dozens of galleries tucked away in basements, laneways and up flights of rickety stairs – some of the best experiences can be found off the beaten track,” says That’s Melbourne.
Then there’s the street art. When New York Times writer Lucas Peterson started taking long walks along the streets and alleys of Melbourne, “it felt as if I was perusing gritty, informal art galleries. Some works were abstract, some skilfully done tributes to favourite cartoon characters, bands or movies. Better still, this seemingly endless stockpile of urban art was free and open to the public — ideal for my frugal budget.”
When added to the city’s excellent brick-and-mortar galleries, notable nightlife and A-plus food culture, “I came to understand how Melbourne has gained a reputation as Australia’s cultural capital.”