Lygon Street, Melbourne

Lygon Street is a street in inner northern Melbourne, Australia running through the suburbs of Carlton, Carlton North, Princes Hill and Brunswick East. Lygon Street's name has become synonymous with Italian restaurants and cafés located in the Carlton part of the street. It was a place of celebration as Italy won the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Geography

Lygon Street runs north-south through the inner northern suburbs of Melbourne. At its southernmost end, it connects to Russell Street in the Hoddle Grid; it then proceeds northward, through Carlton, Carlton North, and Brunswick East, to its intersection with Albion Street. Although the roadway itself continues, it is re-named Holmes Street for the stretch between Albion Street and Moreland Road, and later renamed again to Nicholson Street for the stretch between Moreland Road and the street's terminus at Bell Street. (Note that this is not the same street as Nicholson Street.) North of Park Street, the street numbers restart at 1.

Tram routes 1 and 8 run along Lygon Street between Elgin Street, Carlton, and Albion Street, Brunswick East.

Italian restaurant precinct

The Italian restaurant precinct synonymous with Lygon Street occupies the few blocks between Victoria Street and Elgin Street in Carlton, spilling over into the sidestreets as well. This area is heavily European in nature and is the home of the yearly Lygon Street Festa, one of Australia's largest outdoor street festivals. It also comes alive with Ferrari red and yellow banners during the Australian Grand Prix. The La Mama Theatre and Courthouse Theatre are in this area.

Other points of interest

Melbourne Trades Hall occupies the corner of Lygon Street and Victoria Street. Melbourne General Cemetery is situated on the western side of Lygon Street in North Carlton, between Cemetery Road and Macpherson Street. A new addition is the East Brunswick Club which opened its doors as a music venue at the northern end of the street in May 2006. Lamb's Souvlaki is a popular restaurant on the strip which operates 24 hours a day.

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