Although most would only know Red Cape Lane as just another entrance into QV, but this Lane has a far longer history than you might think. The name Red Cape Lane originates from the Lane’s use as part of one of Melbourne’s earliest hospitals, derived from the red capes worn by its staff.
Originally the Laneway was part of the Queen Victoria Hospital, built between 1840 and 1860, it was the first hospital to be led by a female doctor in Australia. In 1935 the Hospital was renamed to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, and in 1944 was moved to its current location in Parkville. The streets and laneways that make up QV today are a reminder of the location’s past.
Today Red Cape Lane is one of the major thoroughfares in QV, surrounded on all sides by cafes, stores, and restaurants it is one of Melbourne’s major shopping hubs. Sitting next to Melbourne Central Station, QV and Red Cape Lane itself attracts shoppers from far and wide, looking to buy the latest fashion or just to simply by groceries from the largest Woolworths in the CBD, Red Cape Lane has everything a shopper could need.
