Swanston Street and Bourke Street Mall

Highlights

• Shopping
• Cultural corridor linking art galleries, museums and theatres. 

The city’s civic spine and main parade route starts and ends with a pair of Edwardian baroque 'bookends' – the City Baths (1903) at the north end and Flinders Street Station (1901) at the other. In between is an eclectic collection of buildings and businesses, shops and shoppers, buskers and public sculpture. Follow the procession of trams down Swanston Street and discover the heart of Melbourne’s street culture and theatre.

You’ll find yourself returning to Swanston Street time and again. With everything from discount souvenir shops to cheap and cheerful teenage fashion, most of the shopping action is between Flinders Street and Melbourne Central shopping centre on the corner of La Trobe Street. Multi-level and spanning two blocks Melbourne Central is currently undergoing a major overhaul but still has plenty of fashion, home wares and gift stores open for trade.

Bourke Street Mall is a short pedestrian and tram-only strip between Swanston and Elizabeth streets. Recognised as Melbourne’s shopping heart, the mall is always buzzing with shoppers, buskers and city workers. Here you’ll find Melbourne’s two big department stores, David Jones and Myer, along with an eclectic array of shops and chain stores that sell everything from music to jewellery, shoes and novelties.