Howey Place

Howey Place is a covered pedestrian laneway in central Melbourne, Victoria, running south from Little Collins Street between Swanston Street and Elizabeth Street before turning east. It sits within Melbourne's principal shopping precinct and connects with a network of arcades, lanes and building passages, including Presgrave Lane, Capitol Arcade, the retail passage through 234 Collins Street and the arcade or lobby of the Manchester Unity Building. Although it permits deliveries and other vehicle access during restricted periods, its principal role is that of a pedestrian-oriented shopping and urban circulation space. The place developed from land acquired during Melbourne's early colonial period. Henry Howey of Goulburn, New South Wales, purchased three lots at the city's original land sales in 1837 for £128. After Howey and his family died during a voyage from Sydney, the property passed through members of the Howey family, eventually reaching Captain John Edwards Presgrave Howey. The estate retained interests in numerous properties for decades, commonly granting long leases rather than immediately selling the underlying land. Like many central Melbourne blocks, the properties were gradually subdivided and rear-access lanes were formed. The lane existed by the early 1850s alongside a warehouse dating from that period, with its eastern dogleg allowing access to buildings fronting Collins Street. It was recorded as Howey Alley in 1853 and later as Howey Lane. Its commercial identity changed substantially in the late nineteenth century when Edward William Cole expanded Cole's Book Arcade from Bourke Street toward the area. In 1896 Cole leased the adjoining warehouse, installed shopfronts and covered the lane with a glass canopy. The complex accommodated wholesale books, toys and printing activities, and the passage became known as Coles Walk. Cole's Book Arcade closed in 1928, but the lane continued to function as an important connection within the block. Further changes followed in the twentieth century. Howey Court, an arcade at 234–238 Collins Street, was built in 1931, and the Streamline Moderne Presgrave Building replaced buildings on the eastern side of the lane in 1935 while retaining the canopy. In the 1980s, Howey House and nearby structures were demolished to make way for the Sportsgirl Centre, a modern shopping development that opened in 1991. The project preserved the link to Howey Place, which was upgraded with bluestone paving and new lighting. Howey Place remains a small-scale retail and pedestrian environment rather than a conventional consumer brand. Its identity is based on its historic name, covered laneway form, architectural connections and association with Melbourne's arcade culture. A laneway-activation program in 2022 encouraged additional small businesses to occupy previously vacant shopfronts. In 2024, a colourful sign reading Palace of Intellect was installed as a reference to the former Cole's Book Arcade, reinforcing the site's historical and cultural character.

Howey Place developed within a Melbourne city block assembled in part from land purchased by Henry Howey at the original land sales of 1837. Howey acquired three lots for £128, but after his death and the death of his family during a voyage from Sydney, the property passed to his brother John Werge Howey and later to Captain John Edwards Presgrave Howey. The Howey family retained ownership interests in many properties in the area well into the twentieth century, often using long leases as a way of managing the estate. The passage itself emerged from the subdivision pattern of early Melbourne. By the early 1850s, a lane ran beside a warehouse on the western side of the block and turned east to serve the rear of properties facing Collins Street. Historical maps and records identify it as Howey Alley in 1853 and subsequently as Howey Lane. The route was part of the service and access infrastructure typical of dense nineteenth-century commercial blocks. Its most prominent early commercial transformation was associated with Edward William Cole, the proprietor of Cole's Book Arcade. During the 1880s and 1890s, Cole expanded his arcade beyond Bourke Street. In 1896 he leased the warehouse beside the lane, added shopfronts, placed a glass canopy over the passage and arranged a connection toward Collins Street. The warehouse supported wholesale book operations, a toy department and printing work. In this period the passage acquired the name Coles Walk. Cole's Book Arcade closed in 1928, after which the lane continued under other names and through other access arrangements. The surrounding block was further reshaped during the twentieth century. Howey Court, an arcade connecting through 234–238 Collins Street, was constructed in 1931. In 1935, the Streamline Moderne Presgrave Building replaced earlier structures along the eastern side of the lane, while the existing canopy was retained. These interventions helped establish the architectural and pedestrian character associated with the place today. During the 1980s, Howey House and adjoining buildings were demolished for the Sportsgirl Centre. The shopping complex opened in 1991 and preserved a connection with Howey Place. The laneway was refurbished with bluestone paving and new lighting, adapting the historic route to the needs of a contemporary retail centre while maintaining its pedestrian function. In the twenty-first century, Howey Place has been treated as a small urban destination within Melbourne's broader network of laneways and arcades. A 2022 activation program helped bring additional small businesses into vacant premises. In 2024, the installation of a colourful Palace of Intellect sign referenced Cole's Book Arcade and gave the location a visible reminder of its literary and commercial past. Howey Place is therefore best understood as a named historic urban place and retail laneway, not as a conventional consumer-goods brand.

• 2024

  Palace of Intellect sign installed

  [1]Howey Placeen.wikipedia.org

  A colourful sign commemorating Cole's Book Arcade is added to the laneway.

• 2022

  Laneway activation program

  [1]Howey Placeen.wikipedia.org

  An activation initiative supports renewed occupancy by small businesses in previously empty shops.

• 1991

  Sportsgirl Centre opens

  [1]Howey Placeen.wikipedia.org

  The modern shopping centre opens after redevelopment, retaining a connection to Howey Place and accompanying refurbishment of the laneway.

• 1935

  Presgrave Building replaces earlier structures

  [1]Howey Placeen.wikipedia.org

  The Streamline Moderne Presgrave Building is constructed on the eastern side while retaining the lane's canopy.

• 1931

  Howey Court is built

  [1]Howey Placeen.wikipedia.org

  An arcade through 234–238 Collins Street provides another connection into the block surrounding Howey Place.

• 1928

  Cole's Book Arcade closes

  [1]Howey Placeen.wikipedia.org

  The famous book arcade closes, ending the principal phase of its direct commercial association with the lane.

• 1896

  Cole's Book Arcade expands into the lane

  [1]Howey Placeen.wikipedia.org

  Edward William Cole leases the adjacent warehouse, adds shopfronts and covers the passage, which becomes associated with the name Coles Walk.

• 1853

  The lane is recorded as Howey Alley

  [1]Howey Placeen.wikipedia.org

  Historical records identify the passage as Howey Alley; it was later also known as Howey Lane.

• 1837

  Henry Howey acquires city lots

  [1]Howey Placeen.wikipedia.org

  Henry Howey purchases three lots in Melbourne's original land sales for £128, establishing the landholding from which the later Howey Place precinct developed.

A heritage-oriented pedestrian laneway and small-retail destination within Melbourne's central shopping precinct.

• Urban retail destination

  Howey Place retail precinct

  A covered pedestrian passage lined with small retail outlets and connected to Melbourne's wider network of shopping arcades and city lanes. Its offering changes with individual tenants rather than being controlled by a single brand operator.

• Historic commercial passage · 1896

  Coles Walk

  The historical name associated with the late-nineteenth-century expansion of Cole's Book Arcade. The adjacent facilities included wholesale books, toys and printing activities.

• 2022Howey Place laneway activation

  Melbourne

  A place-making and activation program encouraged small businesses to occupy vacant shops and renewed attention on the laneway as a retail destination.

  Outcome. More small-business activity was reported in the previously underused shopfronts.

  Source

1. 1Howey Placeen.wikipedia.org