Block Arcade

I basically came here for the architecture, not the shopping! This arcade is gorgeous and is a dream to walk through. There are a few different lane ways that lead in and out of it as well to explore.

Gorgeous place to explore. Lots of boutiques and cafes. I love walking through here to different laneways– you can follow the laneways and arcades through the city– great way to see the city too.

Strolling through Melbourne’s Central Business District — «CBD,» as it is referred to – we stumbled upon the Block Arcade: a heritage shopping arcade, designed by architect David C. Askew in the late-1800’s, who was commissioned to replicate something similar to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan, Italy, and is one of the finest examples of Victorian Mannerist styles anywhere to be found. The Block’s interior is richly ornate and detailed with elaborate stone carvings, intricate glass works, and painstaking mosaics. Naturally, the shops within are all high-​end retailers, whose wares and gastronomy are, in and of themselves, wonders to behold! In short, this shopping arcade reeks of – dare I say it? — cash! That said, even if you’re not in the spending mood, The Block is a fabulous place to kill some time exploring the architecture and artistry harking back to a whole other world and time… One can wander about and easily get caught-​up in the dazzle of it all!!! Stunning! Absolutely stunning!!!

The outside of the building already makes up for one lovely piece of architecture, but the inside is jaw-​dropping gorgeous with stained glass windows, mosaic floors, glass shop windows and glass roof. It’s sprawling with the hustle and bustle of shoppers and foodies alike filling the cute boutiques and cafes. Even if the stores are expensive, it’s still worth the walk along its walkway and admire its classical Victorian design.

We loved exploring this historic shopping arcade, would liked to have tried the cake /​tea shop but there was a queue to get in. It is worth going in just to look at the architecture.

I often walk through the Block Arcade when I’m in the city. It is a pleasant place to walk and enjoy the ambience of Melbourne’s gold rush wealth. It was built in1892 and was intended to be similar to the Galleria Vittorio in Milan, which I have also been to. The Block Arcade is much smaller than the Galleria Vittorio but they both have maganificent classical design mosaic floors.
When it opened the Arcade had 15 milliners, 3 lace shops, a photographer and the Hopetoun Tea Rooms, only the Hopetoun survives. Their contemporary high end shopping equivalents, fashion boutiques and a glass gallery now fill the other shops. It is a great place for a bit of window-​shopping or just to enjoy the 19^th Century ambience.

«Doing the block» is the term Melbourne’s fashion elite coined to describe the 1890’s tradition of parading around Melbourne’s fashionable shopping streets! The Block was one such popular precinct and due to this changed its name from ‘Carpenters Lane” to «The Block» as we know it today.
A lot may have changed in fashion over the past hundred or so years and The Block arcade has witnessed it all! This heritage shopping precinct off Collins street is a tourist hot spot, but this doesn’t stop well heeled locals from dropping by ‘the block’ to rest up at one of the cafes or the Charles Dickens Tavern.
The Victoria Era arcade was modeled on shopping malls in London and Europe and the glass roof is classified by the National trust. The arcade is elegant and is home to many well known retailers such as Mimco and Haigh’s and has beauty and fashion stores to keep those ‘doing the block’ looking their best!