Russell Street, Melbourne

Russell Street is a main street and thoroughfare in the Melbourne central business district, Victoria, Australia. It runs roughly north-south and was laid out as a core feature of the Hoddle Grid in 1837.

Russell Street is named after John Russell, British Home Secretary and leader of the House of Commons in Lord Melbourne's cabinet. Russell himself was also a future Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Geography
Russell Street runs roughly north-south and is located one block east of the city's central thoroughfare of Swanston Street.

At its southern end, the street intersects with Flinders Street and Federation Square, while at its northern end it becomes Lygon Street, the main street of Melbourne's Little Italy.

Notable buildings
Russell Street is lined with established trees and is the home of numerous public amenities and buildings. Noteworthy structures include: The street is also home to many buildings featured on the Victorian Heritage Register or classified by the National Trust of Australia, including:
 * QV Village
 * RMIT University
 * Old Melbourne Gaol (1845)
 * Duke of Wellington Hotel (1850)
 * State Library of Victoria (1854)
 * Scots' Church (1874)
 * Eight Hour Day Monument, commemorating Melbourne's labour movement to adopt the 8 hour working day (1903)
 * City Watch House (1909)
 * Former Melbourne Magistrates' Court (1914)
 * Emily McPherson College of Domestic Economy (1927)
 * Former Russell Street Police Headquarters (1943)
 * Former Russell Street Telephone Exchange & Post Office (1954)
 * Total House (1965)
 * Several Underground Public conveniences

Russell Street Bombing
On 27 March 1986, a car bomb was detonated on Russell Street near the Police Headquarters. Constable Angela Taylor died and 21 others were injured in what was described as a ‘revenge attack' on Melbourne police, perpetrated by Stanley Taylor and Craig Minogue.

Transport
Rusell street is partly serviced by Kinetic Melbourne bus routes 200 and 207.

Whilst the street does not have tram lines or railway stations located on it, it is easily reached by public transport via Parliament, Flinders Street and Melbourne Central stations. It also intersects with several streets which are serviced by Melbourne tramlines, including Victoria Street, La Trobe Street, Bourke Street, Collins Street and Flinders Street.