Howey Place, Melbourne facts for kids
Howey Place is a cool, covered laneway in the heart of Melbourne, Victoria. It's like a secret shortcut filled with shops! This narrow path runs south from Little Collins Street, nestled between Swanston Street and Elizabeth Street in Melbourne's city centre.
Today, Howey Place is famous for its small, trendy fashion stores. It also connects to other shopping spots, like Collins234 Boutique Place which leads to Collins Street. It even forms an "L" shape towards the back of the Capitol Arcade, linking it to Swanston Street. Cars are not allowed in Howey Place, making it a safe and fun place to walk around.
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History of Howey Place
Howey Place has an interesting past, changing from a simple lane to the vibrant shopping area it is today.
From Drab Lane to Shopping Arcade
Before 1896, Howey Place was just a plain, uncovered lane. But that year, a clever person named Edward William Cole decided to change things. Edward Cole was famous for his amazing Cole's Book Arcade. He added a glass roof over the lane and put in glass display cases along the sides. This made the lane much more inviting for shops. Some of the first shops included a Cole's wholesale bookstore, a toy store, and a printing shop.
Buildings and Connections Over Time
In the 1920s, a stylish building called the Presgrave building became part of the laneway. Later, in the 1930s, a tall art-deco building called Howey House connected the lane to Collins Street. However, Howey House was taken down in the 1980s to make way for a new shopping centre called the Sportsgirl Centre.
Who Was Henry Howey?
Howey Place is named after Henry Howey. He bought the land for a small amount of money, just £128, way back in 1837. Sadly, Henry and his family drowned while traveling from Sydney. His property then went to his brother, John Werge Howey, and later to his nephew, Captain John Edwards Presgrave Howey.
