Campbell Arcade

Campbell Arcade

Victoria
General information
TypeStreet
Opened1955
Major junctions
North endDegraves Street
 Flinders Street
South endFlinders Street railway station
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Campbell Arcade is a pedestrian arcade located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The arcade is accessible from Flinders Street station and was built in 1955 to ensure crossing between Flinders Street and Melbourne's main train station was safer. It was completed ahead of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.[1]

Campbell Arcade exit on Degraves Street

Campbell Arcade also connects to two staircases leading to the northern and southern sides of Flinders Street. The arcade's salmon pink tiles, black marble pillars and art deco shopfronts are its original decor.[1] Tramlines also run directly above the arcade.

Campbell Arcade is listed under the City of Melbourne and on the Victorian Heritage Register, under the listing for Flinders Street station (H1083). The Arcade itself was specifically added to the listing in 2015, "recognising its architectural qualities and historical significance", as the "first infrastructure to be built in the city following World War II" and as the centre of the city's suburban commuter railway system.[2]

Since construction it has always been a shopping arcade. Before the City Loop distributed passengers to Melbourne's other train stations the arcade was far busier, though around 70,000 commuters still pass through of a morning.[1] The pedestrian thoroughfare includes a bar, a coffee shop, hairdressers and a record store. Between 1994 and 2015 artworks were also displayed by the resident Platform Artists Group.[3] This has since been taken over by The Dirty Dozen, an initiative of City of Melbourne's Creative Spaces. The arcade was also the former home of beloved Indie jewellery shop Corky Saint Clair, which has since moved to Swanston Street, Melbourne.[4]

As of the 30th of April 2022, Campbell Arcade is temporarily closed due to ongoing construction on the walkway between Flinders Street Station and the new Town Hall station. When completed, the walkway will connect to Flinders Street station via Campbell Arcade.[5]

  1. ^ a b c Digital, Carter. "Culture Victoria". Culture Victoria. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  2. ^ "Metro Tunnel - Campbell Arcade Under Threat". Melbourne Heritage Action (National Trust). Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  3. ^ "PLATFORM ART SPACES: ABOUT". PLATFORM ART SPACES. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  4. ^ Melbourne, City of (21 January 2017). "Campbell Arcade". www.thatsmelbourne.com.au. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  5. ^ "Campbell Arcade temporary closure during Town Hall underpass works". 22 April 2022.