PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE LAUNCH OF

MELBOURNE’S STORIED LANEWAYS

Launched by Julian O’Shea

Curated by David Thompson

Designed by Daisy Searls

Thursday 11 April, 5:30pm – 7pm

We all have our favourite Melbourne laneway and curator, David Thompson, has chosen his favourites which reveal some intriguing Melbourne stories. When we think of today’s gussied-up tourist-friendly laneways like Guilford Lane and Hosier Lane, it is hard to imagine that a mere 50 years ago the laneways were workaday places full still of small factories and light industry. And earlier still there was the desperation of Little Lon. Today we get just glimpses of those rough and ready laneways that serviced the city and a frisson as the mouths of some still grimy and squalid laneways beckon us deeper in.

This exhibition has grown out of the RHSV’s latest publication which is an updated version of  historian Weston Bate’s Essential but Unplanned: Melbourne’s Laneways which came out 30 years ago in 1994. The new laneways book will be launched in a few months.

Julian O’Shea is a popular online creator with millions of views across YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. You might have seen him on your For You Page standing in front of a strange piece of urban infrastructure. Julian recently won the 2023 Victorian Community History Award for best Digital Storytelling Award. Julian has performed at Melbourne Fringe and various comedy storytelling events including SciFight Comedy Debate, and has been a comedy writer for Mad Magazine. He is a regular guest on ABC Radio Melbourne with Charlie Pickering and recently shared stories of the city with Julia Zemiro on Great Australian Walks. His work has been featured in The Age, Herald Sun, 3AW and the ABC. Julian has an upcoming show, M is for Melbourne, in the Melbourne Comedy Festival (27 March – 7 April).