Melbourne’s premier retail precinct is filled with boutiques and big department stores set in charming heritage-listed arcades.
Bourke Street Mall sits at the heart of downtown Melbourne between Swanston and Elizabeth streets. It’s one of the city’s premier shopping destinations. The mall is entirely paved and is only open to pedestrians and trams, making it a prime location for street performers.
Set aside a day to explore the incredible range of stores in Bourke Street Mall. If you need help planning your day, stop by the Melbourne Visitor Booth in the mall to pick up maps and information on what’s in the area.
Want to give your wardrobe a Melbourne makeover? You’ll have no end of choices here, with stores ranging from high-end fashion to discount clothing shops . Find major brands and department stores, including David Jones and Myer, and explore the arcades and smaller shopping centers to find quirkier boutiques and independent designers.
The Royal Arcade and Melbourne General Post Office are worth visiting, even for non-shoppers. These 19th-century buildings are heritage listed, have fabulous old-world interiors, and are filled with boutique stores and eateries. Order an espresso from a café outside the Melbourne General Post Office and enjoy the passing parade of shoppers, office workers and sightseers.
The absence of cars has meant that Bourke Street Mall has become a favourite place for Melbourne’s street performers. The intense demand for performance spots means that the quality of entertainment is first class, every day of the week. So, find a good vantage point and settle in for an hour or two the mall is one of Melbourne’s “entertainment bargains.”
Bourke Street Mall is just a 10-minute walk from Flinders Street Station, Melbourne’s main train terminal. Trams run the length of the street, so be sure to listen for the bells that warn of when these vehicles are approaching.
