Who is Hosier Inc?
Hosier and Rutledge Lanes are more than laneways. They are living cultural spaces where every mural, stencil and layer of paint adds to a story recognised worldwide as part of Melbourne’s creative identity.
Hosier Inc. is the community organisation behind that story. We bring together artists, residents, businesses and supporters who value the laneways and want to see them thrive.
Our work focuses on cultural growth and long-term sustainability, ensuring the lanes remain respectful, inclusive and creatively rich.
By protecting both the art and the culture, Hosier Inc. works to ensure the laneways continue to inspire, surprise and connect people for generations to come.
Recent History.
Hosier Lane, opposite Federation Square in Melbourne’s CBD, began in the late 19th century as a service laneway for warehouses, small factories and delivery access. For much of its early life it functioned as a working backstreet. In the 1990s, as Melbourne’s laneway culture emerged, Hosier became a canvas for artists seeking walls and corners to showcase their work. Its identity was further defined by Citylights, a curated series of illuminated lightboxes that transformed the lane into a 24-hour outdoor gallery and set the tone for ongoing artist-led activation.
By the early 2000s, the lane had become one of the city’s most photographed and best-known street art destinations, with large-scale murals, stencils and graffiti covering nearly every surface. Events like All Your Walls in 2013 cemented its reputation as a living, ever-changing gallery.
Adjoining Rutledge Lane, with its tighter turns and vertical surfaces, became just as important, often used as a proving ground for emerging artists. Together, Hosier and Rutledge form an interconnected space where local talent and international names and local talent mix side by side.
The laneways have also featured in global travel guides, fashion shoots, wedding parties and international press, helping Melbourne earn its reputation as one of the world’s street art capitals.
Today, Hosier and Rutledge Lanes remain celebrated as cultural landmarks, home to an evolving mix of art, residents, businesses and visitors, all contributing to a culture that is colourful, unpredictable and uniquely Melburnian.
