'Bourne Identity

Melbourne—also known by its traditional Aboriginal name, Naarm—is a city that caters to the curious. We explore its thriving creative scene through the eyes of its artists

- Coco Marett

If you know, you know. That more or less sums up the spirit of Naarm, or Melbourne, Australia—a city that carries a quiet, confident coolness about it. Just last year, Smith Street in the Fitzroy neighbourhood was named “the coolest street in the world” for its line-up of understatedly chic wine bars, laidback cafés, restaurants and independent boutiques frequented by Melbourne’s creative set. The neighbourhood, once a stomping ground for street gangs in the 1800s, has a long, proud history of sticking it to the man and defying the mainstream.

It’s an attitude that has remained and become innate in modern Melburnians; naturally, the city has become a breeding ground for artists and innovators. Given the city’s plethora of multicultural pockets that celebrate its diverse immigrant population, proud Indigenous heritage and position as a cultural hotspot, we asked some of Melbourne’s established and rising stars in the art world to narrow down the options and share their favourite local haunts.

MEGGS

Visual and Mural Artist

EDINBURGH GARDENS

Also known as Eddy Gardens, this is a large park that everyone on the Northside has visited to eat lunch and have a drink (or many) with friends. It’s spacious, has a skatepark, is kid-friendly and is an overall great outdoor hub.

FLINDERS AND CAPE SCHANCK