Hardware Lane, Melbourne

Hardware Lane is a wide laneway located in the central business district of Melbourne, Australia. It stretches in a north-south direction, running between Bourke Street and Little Lonsdale Street. Notably, it changes its name to Hardware Street when transitioning between Lonsdale and Little Lonsdale Streets.

This laneway has gained fame for its abundance of restaurants and cafes, but it also hosts hairdressers, fast-food establishments, and retail shops. Hardware Lane is a vibrant representation of Melbourne's well-known laneway culture, characterized by a distinct European ambiance and unique red brick pavement. The lane is closed to vehicular traffic from 11 am to 11 pm and occasionally hosts live jazz performances during nighttime hours.

Originally known as Wrights Lane in 1857, it became Hardware Lane in 1927, named after the Hardware House. Previously, it was home to Kirk's Horse Bazaar, established in 1840 by James Bowie Kirk as a horse and livery trading center. It also hosted Melbourne's Tattersall's Club for settling wagers with bookmakers.

Around 1895, when it was still known as Wrights Lane, the area was home to several hotels. The Kirks Bazaar Hotel, dating back to 1866, occupied the eastern corner of Little Bourke Street, while the adjacent corner featured the Governor Arthur Hotel. The Shamrock Hotel was situated at the opposite end of the lane, at the intersection with Lonsdale Street. However, there are no operating hotels on the modern Hardware Lane.

One notable building on Hardware Lane is Dynon's Building at 63-73, consisting of four warehouses designed by William Pitt, renowned for his work on some of the city's finest gothic revival buildings, including the Princess Theatre.