“Over 2 years I worked on the Chapel St Book as part of an initiative for the Chapel St Precinct, covering many local businesses that have shaped Chapel St for decades.”

As the photographer behind this project, I set out to capture more than just images, I wanted to document the soul of one of Melbourne’s most iconic strips. From the colourful storefronts of Prahran to the buzzing nightlife of Windsor and the timeless charm of South Yarra, my lens followed the people and places that make Chapel Street so distinctive.

Working alongside the Chapel Street Precinct Association (CSPA), I had the privilege of photographing the traders who embody the street’s resilience and creativity. The CSPA has long been the backbone of this community, an advocate, connector, and champion for the businesses that fuel Chapel Street’s reputation as Melbourne’s cultural and commercial heart.

The Chapel Street Book became both a tribute and a time capsule: boutique retailers, celebrated dining rooms, innovative start-ups, and cultural institutions, all woven together through portraits and street scenes that tell a story of unity and endurance.

Unfortunately, despite the years of work invested, the project was never fully completed. Only a single copy of the book was ever produced, a rare artefact of a vision that didn’t reach the finish line. Yet, in that one book lives a record of a community’s spirit, resilience, and identity, seen through my lens.

Though the publication never went into circulation, the images continue to serve as a powerful reminder of what makes Chapel Street more than just a strip of shops, it is the beating heart of Melbourne’s cultural identity.