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Brown Alley

Brown Alley was probably named for the Brown Boy Inn, which operated in the alley in 1860. The laneway appears to have undergone some name changes, because in 1895 it appeared as Murckut's Alley on MMBW detail plans, servicing blacksmiths, manufacturers, the Adelaide Club Hotel and the Great Western Hotel. The laneway reappeared as Brown Alley in 1915, when contemporary directories show it contained only a wool buying business. The Lonsdale Street end of Brown Alley has been occupied since 1858 by Seabrook House, a three-storey bluestone warehouse featuring a variety of detailed dressed finishes. The building is now heritage listed, and used for office space.

Edwina Byrne

References
Sands & McDougall’s commercial and general Melbourne directory, Sands & McDougall, Melbourne, 1860. Details
Sands & McDougall’s commercial and general Melbourne directory, Sands & McDougall, Melbourne, 1920. Details
MMBW Detail Plan, 737, City of Melbourne, image no bw0417, 1895; MMBW Melbourne Sewerage Plans 1890s - 1950s; State Library of Victoria. Details