April 2026

Howey Place is pretty unusual amongst the city’s lanes, part lane part arcade, with an old glass roof, Pomo details, looking like a dead end, but with many connections.

The roof with its Art Nouveau front was created in 1896, when EW Cole extended his Bourke Street Book Arcade through to Collins Street via the lane and a shop. It was sometimes known as Coles Walk, and its all that’s left of arcade, and even though it closed in 1928 is still a part of urban memory – which led to the installation of the Palace of Intellect sign in 2024, one of his many slogans (but he didn’t have LED rainbows).

The lane was refurbished in c1991 as part of the Sportsgirl Centre project (from memory), when it was paved in bluestone and red granite (so 80s) and added funny big lights, and consistent signs. The sign disappeared in the 90s, the lights disappeared last year, and the signs have seen better days. It’s also often rather gloomy, I think because the glass isn’t transparent enough. There’s also a dogleg beyond leading the Manchester Unity that’s even darker, which still has the 90s lights.

Perhaps because of covid many shops were vacant and a program in 2022 saw fashion pop-ups and apparently some of them became permanent.

And the name ? It’s on one of three city blocks bought in 1837 by Henry Howey, who promptly drowned, and the family hung onto most of it right into the early 20thC. They were quickly subdivided anyway, and this lane was created by 1853, providing access to the rear of more valuable Collins Street addresses.

Also on the corner of the Capitol Theatre building there’s an excellent sign, very Griffin style. Old pics @library_vic, colour one Graeme Butler, pics 9,10 mine from 2017, 2015. I marked up an old map to show the original lots.

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