Melbourne is known as Australia’s counter culture capital, and its thriving street art scene is testament to the city’s unique spirit and creativity. Francesca Baker explores the Laneways, Melbourne’s bohemian center, and discovers the story behind Melbourne’s historic urban art. What is it that makes the area so different? There’s a buzz, creativity, passion in the area, and it comes from the Laneways. Melbourne’s street art is legendary. Consisting of stencils, paste ups and murals and primarily centered around Hosier Lane, Union Lane and Rutledge Lane, it also spills out down to the beach area of St Kilda, and over to the bustling and bohemian area of Fitzroy. Widely considered an outrage, there is still the undercurrent opinion that street art is not something to be saved, but is an ever evolving method of creativity, part of and reflecting the conversation of the street. By its nature it is transient and moving, which adds to and is part of the buzz of the Laneways. The council’s four year draft graffiti management plan for 2014-18 stating that ‘by its nature, street art within the City of Melbourne is ephemeral—it is not meant to last’- something seen in the current Melbourne Now exhibition taking place at the Art Museum. The Laneways in Melbourne are not just streets, the cafe culture is not just coffee, and the street art is certainly not just graffiti.