Stroll or tram down Swanston Street, aptly referred to as 'Melbourne's iconic spine', and you will encounter contemporary architecture and street art vying for attention beside 19th century old-school bronze statues and buildings, permanent reminders of Melbourne's early British settlement. There are no visible signs of the people who first inhabited this land, however, you can engage with Aboriginal art in the Australian collection at the National Gallery of Victoria's Ian Potter Centre, at the rear of Federation Square. This self-guided tour begins at the northern end of Swanston Street: The University of Melbourne's Ian Potter Museum of Art. Before you start, you can enjoy a tea or coffee at the Potter cafe which hugs the north-east corner of the art gallery. Heading south, you will eventually reach the Yarra River where Swanston Street becomes St Kilda Road across Princes Bridge. The green expanse of the Royal Melbourne Botanic Gardens fans out to the left. To the right is the Arts Centre with its spire, and further on, the imposing bluestone building of the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV International) houses a range of international art dating from antiquity through to the 21st century. The tour finishes here. You will engage with many forms of art which ‘speak’ to each of us differently—a work of art may remind us of the past (a weathered facade or a history painting), represent the present, or project an imagined future. After you finish this tour along Swanston Street, you might ask yourself: Is Melbourne developing a distinctive artistic character representative of its past, present and perhaps even its future? Walks of Art self-guided walking tours spotlight urban pockets of Melbourne and Europe with a focus on art in galleries, on the streets and in public places. As the tours are self-paced, you can determine for yourself how long you spend at each stop. Sometimes looking at a facade is all that is required, or a lengthier time may be spent at a gallery or church. It's all up to you! Most of the galleries and museums of art on the tours are chosen because they either do not charge admission fees (except for temporary exhibitions), or if they do, the fee is deemed reasonable by the author. Again, you have the choice. Each walk includes: many works of art with detailed descriptions a map of the route opening and closing times of galleries/museums/churches/institutions photos/images at least one inexpensive eatery along the way that is a favourite of the author. The author is mindful of those art-lovers who are confined to a wheelchair. Walks of Art tours consider the ease of wheelchair access along the route. Traditional travel guide books are expensive, adding bulk and weight to travel bags. They can also be out-of-date very quickly. Walks of Art are distributed as e-guides to smartphones, iPads and Kindles—easy to buy and access, and eco-friendly! The author keeps a vigilant eye on any changes to opening hours, new installations, closures and/or removals of works of art. This means that information can be updated with the click of a button. However, for those travellers who prefer reading print on paper rather than on shiny screens, a pocket-book version of Walks of Art will be available in the near future. Look out for the next tour in the Walks of Art series which will focus on a pocket in Rome. All tours are intended for those individuals who, like the author, want to experience art ... slowly.

Over two years, writer Nick Gadd and his wife Lynne circled the city of Melbourne on foot, starting at Williamstown and ending in Port Melbourne. Along the way they uncovered lost buildings, secret places and mysterious signs that told of forgotten stories and curious characters from the past. Soon after they completed the circle, Lynne passed away from cancer. Melbourne Circle is the story of their journey, a memoir, and a stunning meditation on personal loss. ‘What a gem this book is! Oddity, wonderment, weirdness: these splendid essays reveal a marvellous Melbourne most of us have never encountered before. This is a psychogeography dense with vernacular history, humane detail, and from beneath the shadow of grief, love.’ –­ Gail Jones, author of Five Bells and The Death of Noah Glass ‘‘‘Psychojogging”’ and the pleasures of walking.’ – interview with Hilary Harper on Radio National, Life Matters ‘Marvellous Melbourne: the books that capture our city and its life.’ – The Age/Sydney Morning Herald ‘Melbourne Circle: Walking, Memory and Loss is a very special book. Just read it, and then take to the streets and walk with the same spirit of enquiry.’ – Sophie Cunningham, The Age ‘A beautiful meditation on the streets in which we live, ghosts, love and loss … While there is sadness in this book, Gadd writes with warmth, humour and a generosity of spirit.’ – Stephen Romei, The Weekend Australian ‘An endearing book about enduring love and serendipitous discoveries; of remnants of the past pasted onto old buildings, and the way these ghost signs are portals into another time.’ – The Saturday Paper

Melbourne is a great Art Deco city. From the towering police headquarters in Russell Street to the tiniest detail of a suburban interior, Art Deco styling maintains an enduring presence in all facets of Melbourne's cultural life. Melbourne Art Deco examines the rise, fall and resurgence of Art Deco in Melbourne from the 1930s to the present day. This updated edition features contemporary images by David Thompson and a team of photographers, supported by archival material.

Pocket-sized books to inspire your on-foot exploration of top international destinations. Experience the best of Melbourne with this indispensably practical Insight Guides Explore book. From making sure you don't miss out on must-see attractions like the Melbourne Cricket Ground to discovering hidden gems, including the Great Ocean Road, the easy-to-follow, ready-made walking routes will help you plan your trip, save you time, and enhance your exploration of this fascinating city. Practical, pocket-sized and packed with inspirational insider information, this will make the ideal on-the-move companion for your trip to Melbourne Enjoy over 14 irresistible Best Routes to walk, from Collins Street to Yarra Valley Features concise insider information about landscape, history, food and drink, and entertainment options Invaluablemaps: each Best Route is accompanied by a detailed full-colour map, while the large pull-out map provides an essential overview of the area Discover your destination's must-see sights and hand-picked hidden gems Directory section provides invaluable insight into top accommodation, restaurant and nightlife options by area, along with an overview of language, books and films Includes an innovative extra that's unique in the market - all Explore Guides come with a free eBook Inspirational colour photography throughout About Insight Guides: Insight Guides is a pioneer offull-colour guide books, with almost 50 years' experience of publishinghigh-quality, visual travel guides with user-friendly, modern design. Weproduce around 400 full-colour print guide books and maps as well as phrasebooks, picture-packed eBooks and apps to meet different travellers' needs.Insight Guides' unique combination of beautiful travel photography and focus onhistory and culture create a unique visual reference and planning tool toinspire your next adventure.