28 November 2025
Had a look at the reopened Campbell Arcade / Degraves Street underpass, opened to great fanfare in 1955.
Pleased to say it looks pretty much exactly the same, but somehow a bit brighter compared to pic 2 before…ah I see there’s down lights in front of the shops now. So the pink tiles (some new?), the great metal signs, the black granite columns and pink granite edging, the shopfronts, the display windows , the asphalt floor, even the lift up benches, all the same, in fact untouched. As some comments note yes perhaps they could have spent a little more and regrouted the tiles, I see there’s even some mould in there! But I prefer the asphalt floor to any kind of new light tiles.
No shops yet, and new signs in bright yellow looking a bit garish compared. Two shops on the east side are gone (pic 14 before), because that’s where the tunnel connecting through to Town Hall Station connects. It’s lined with matching size square tiles but in grey, a bit dull I think, though also a fifties colour (photos via Metro Tunnel).
They’ve restored the signs over the stairs to Flinders Street, which were a bit rusty, and the upper part now white on black, no idea if that was original.
Pic 14 is the dead end that once went into the long gone Mutual Store, which bowling enthusiasts know had a basement bowling alley. All pics mine.
18 March 2025
The first four photos here just posted by @metrotunnelvic of the Campbell Arcade/Degraves Street underpass, fully refreshed as part of the tunnel project. The first pic is the display window that was the Cup of Truth coffee kiosk. The rest are mine or from Facebook, with the plan for the connection to Town Hall Station showing how most of the shops themselves will be retained. The arcade was planned in 1949, but not built till 1954-5, all in chic 50s pink tiles and black granite, I think designed by the City of Melbourne. It closed in April 22, seems like a long time ago !
Storey of Melbourne 