Albury’s AMP Lane is in the running for NSW’s Favourite Urban Place award. Photo: Supplied.
One of Albury’s hidden gems is in the running to be named NSW’s favourite urban place.
AMP Lane, tucked just off Dean Street, is framed by graceful heritage buildings and lined with cafes, bars and boutique shops, providing a lively link to the city’s main street and the Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA).
Now this popular spot, created in 1881, has been shortlisted in the Urban Design Association of NSW’s (UDA) annual search for ‘NSW’s Favourite Urban Place’.
The public poll, which celebrates civic laneways that turn everyday spaces into lively, people-centred destinations, has AMP Lane in fine company – alongside laneways in Goulburn, Lane Cove, Manly, Haymarket, Newcastle and Wollongong.
AMP Lane’s mix of culture, hospitality and design makes it a standout, according to Albury City’s Community and Place Service Leader Simona Coad.
“AMP Lane is full of life – from the cafes and specialty stores by day to the illuminated lightboxes that transform it at night,” she said.
“It’s a place that reflects Albury’s character – welcoming, walkable and always evolving.”
Small but mighty, civic laneways are now a go-to place for creative urban life, according to UDA president Diana Griffiths.
Usually only about five to eight metres wide, they are typically a fully paved street in the older parts of a town with shared or restricted access to vehicles.
Enlivened by public art or colourful lighting, there is a convivial mix of people sitting in cafes or bars or strolling past the shops on an enjoyable shortcut, Ms Griffiths said.
Some work best during the day, some at night.
The history of civic laneways reveals they are generally revitalised versions of rear lanes laid out in 19th century subdivisions to service commercial buildings.
Back-of-house operations in the lanes kept the daily realities of business away from customers at the front. Many service lanes are still doing this job.
But where circumstances have changed, councils have jumped at the opportunity to transform these unique spaces into places people enjoy, Ms Griffiths said.
And people seem drawn to the human scale and slow tempo of these narrow streets, she said.
“Urban designers call these places ‘fine grained’ because everything – the rhythm of shop fronts, the street dimensions – is scaled to people not vehicles,” she said.
This year’s UDA poll organiser Simina Simaki suggested another reason for the popularity of laneways.
“Often the rents in laneways are lower than the main street or shopping centre, so they attract independent shops,” said Ms Simaki, adding that in most of the shortlisted laneways, councils had brightened the space with potted trees, benches and public art.
“Public artwork tailored to a unique place or of that country really lifts an urban environment,” Ms Simaki said. “Regional cities do this well, like Devonshire Street in Newcastle or Goulburn’s Russell Lane.”
Twice a year at Albury, the Laneway Lightbox Open Air Gallery brings new artworks to the AMP Lane space – this helps keep it fresh, creative and engaging, according to Ms Coad.
“AMP Lane’s inclusion (in the poll) reflects Albury’s growing reputation for creating inviting urban spaces that encourage people to connect, linger and enjoy their city,” she said.
Gritty and charming, old and new, functional and fascinating, UDA believes civic laneways are hidden gems offering people a different character, convivial ambience and a bit of surprise in our cities and towns.
