Lock Lane – ‘Keep It Weird, Wild & Wonderful!’
Lock Lane is getting a new lease on life! With $100,000 grant from the Streets Alive program, we’re transforming this narrow Northbridge laneway into a safer, greener, and more welcoming space for people ~ not just cars. Think Entry Statement, art, light, and local creativity bringing new energy to the heart of the city.
The Lane We’re Building Together
Lock Lane: ‘Keep It Weird, Wild, & Wonderful’ is a collaborative street transformation inspired by Perth Design Week’s Walkshop, where participants explored how slower speeds and inclusive design can create safer, more vibrant communities.
Thanks to a $100,000 grant through the Streets Alive program, delivered by Town Team Movement in partnership with Main Roads WA and WALGA, the project will bring this vision to life.
Together with local residents, businesses (The Rechabite, Mechanics Institute, and Alabama Song Bar and others), artists, and City of Perth partners, we’ll reimagine Lock Lane as a welcoming corridor for walking, riding, wheeling, and small community events enriched with an Entry Statement, art, lighting, and design elements that reflect Northbridge’s creative spirit.
By calming traffic and improving visibility, the project will make the laneway safer and more inviting, while also strengthening community pride, trust, and long-term stewardship of this unique shared space.
What’s Happening in Lock Lane Now
Lock Lane is currently a narrow, vehicle-dominated laneway where access, bin storage, and pedestrian movement all compete for space. The issue isn’t the number of vehicles — it’s how they move. During busy nights, rideshare and delivery drivers often speed through the lane, especially near the Alex Hotel, creating near misses and safety concerns for people on foot.
Uneven surfaces, poor lighting, and the lack of clear signage or wayfinding add to the problem, making the lane feel unsafe and unwelcoming for walking, cycling, or using mobility aids. At the moment, it’s seen more as a service route than a place for people.
Lock Lane Reimagined aims to turn that around, encouraging safer driver behaviour, improving comfort and confidence for pedestrians, and shifting perceptions from “back alley” to “shared community space.”
The Future of Lock Lane
Our vision is for Lock Lane to evolve from a forgotten shortcut into a safe, inclusive, and proudly Northbridge space that celebrates creativity and connection. Over time, it will become part of a growing network of revitalised laneways across Perth- places that prioritise people, art, and activation over cars.
Future improvements may include raised entry points, greenery, wall and ground murals, upgraded lighting, and flexible event-friendly features. These interventions will help slow traffic, improve safety, and build a strong sense of place.
But the transformation goes beyond the physical. It’s about shifting culture and behaviour, encouraging drivers to give way, helping people feel safe to walk and linger, and inspiring the community to see laneways as valuable shared spaces.
Lock Lane Reimagined will showcase how lighter, quicker, community-led design can spark lasting change, turning a once-overlooked lane into a lively, creative, and inclusive Northbridge landmark.
If you are interested to get invovled please contact: [email protected]