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Inner Circle Magazine, dedicated to documenting the social and cultural pursuits of Melbourne’s inner north, and inspired by the vibrant local community and rich history of the area, was conceptualised by two Fitzroy ‘nouveau-locals’ who have a passion and love for the unique culture that emanates from every corner of this inner city region. Comprising of Carlton, Fitzroy, Collingwood, North Melbourne, Parkville and the immediate surrounds of Abbotsford, Brunswick and Northcote, Melbourne’s inner north has evolved from what was once, in parts, considered the city’s slums over a century ago into a social and cultural mecca. The inner north attracts people of all ages and social backgrounds who look to experience and enjoy the plethora of shops, restaurants, cafes, markets, bars, clubs and galleries in the area. As one delves a little deeper into the rabbit hole, you soon discover the alternative sub-cultures that thrive in the area and that have helped shape Melbourne’s unique reputation.
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Inner Circle Magazine Issue 1 - March 2017
Today, our region boasts an enviable array of world-class shops, bars, eateries, galleries and venues of the highest calibre. But while so often such gentrification forces out the bohemian soul of an area, in the inner north we have the perfect balance. You don’t have to delve too far beneath the surface to find a still thriving world of underground creatives, artists and dreamers who have helped pave the way for what we see here today, and who are quietly proud to subtly influence the trends of the future. It is without doubt that the people of the inner north are what truly make this region so fascinating, and it is the attitudes and values that locals hold in high regard, and that visitors embrace, that help maintain the allure and identity of our region.
Inner Circle Magazine has been crafted and created to expose and celebrate the very best of the inner north. To tell the story of our bustling arts and music scene, to embrace the diversity of our community, to explore the forward-thinking, trend-setting fashion scene, to indulge in locally prepared coffee, food & drink and to explore the hidden cultures that exist throughout the backstreets and lanes of our neighbourhood.
So whether you live, eat, drink, work, study, shop or socialise in the region, we hope that you find this local resource an enjoyable and informative exploration of Melbourne’s inner north. We hope it captures and expresses the heart of this region, and hope it helps you discover new and exciting things that you may not yet have explored. Welcome to the inner north.
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Inner Circle Magazine Issue 2 - April 2017
March was a truly stellar month in the inner north, with the early autumn sunshine pleasantly offering us the opportunity to truly enjoy a host of offerings that once again reminded us of how lucky we are to live in this fantastic pocket of Melbourne. Major events such as the Brunswick Music Festival and the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival brought glitz, glamour, entertainment and celebration to our region, while grassroots community events, such as PeaceMeals and the Bridges to Harmony Festival, reinforced the genuine togetherness and diversity that we enjoy in the local area.
In this issue of Inner Circle Magazine, we have thoroughly enjoyed delving into some of the alternative happenings, projects and events in the region, giving us a fascinating snapshot of the wonderful smorgasbord of interests, passions and places that thrive in the inner north. From drunk knitting meet-ups, to the search for alternative forms of life in the universe, to an exploration of legendary Collingwood venue The Tote and more, we hope you enjoy our latest exploration of local culture.
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Inner Circle Magazine Issue 3 - May 2017
May is very much the month to celebrate beer in the inner north, with the GABS 2017 Beer, Cider and Food Festival and Good Beer Week bringing a host of beer-centric and foodie events to our region. As such, we decided to catch up with one of our favourite local craft brewers, Moon Dog Craft Brewery, to find out a little more about what goes on behind the scenes in the local craft beer industry.
Alongside the gluttonous consumption of beer, this issue also sees us delve into the worlds of vinyl (April’s Record Store Day was another huge success), and vintage wear, both staples for many an inner northerner, and very much part of the fabric of today’s culture and society in Fitzroy, Collingwood, Brunswick, Northcote and beyond. For lovers of contemporary street art, another ever-present icon of the north, we also take a look at edgy Collingwood backstreet gallery Backwoods.
But in this inner city region some are still bringing things back to nature, as we found out from Claire Dunn of Nature’s Apprentice, who has taken on a year long experiment to see if she can maintain a genuine connection with nature and a sustainable way of living, all whilst residing in Melbourne’s suburban inner north.
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Inner Circle Magazine Issue 4 - June 2017
June also sees us reach Issue 4 of Inner Circle Magazine, and if there’s one thing the journey has made evident so far, it’s the unbelievable sense of community and creativity in the region. Combined, they provide the perfect platform for people to do and create some truly amazing things.
It’s this combination that is the key theme of this month’s issue. Join us as we take a look at NobleGenie, a social enterprise helping build and strengthen the community spirit in Melbourne’s inner north. We also explore Everywhere Roadie, a platform connecting independent artists across Australia and beyond. Both of these very creative, very different projects share a common ethos of community, sharing and helping.
Another important aspect of Melbourne’s inner north is its rich history and diversity, something we explore as we chat with film producer Lucinda Horrocks about the making of her new film Out of the Closet, Into the Streets, which celebrates the spirited rise of Melbourne’s Gay Liberation Movement and its impact and history in the inner north. But it doesn’t stop there. This feature packed issue also sees us tempt our caffeine cravings as we delve into the world of coffee, getting to know some of the people behind the local coffee industry. And not to forget our fashion conscious readers, enjoy as we catch up with Michael Albert of Smart Alec Hatters, who knows just what it takes to find that perfect hat!
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Inner Circle Magazine Issue 5 - July 2017
This month sees us take a varied look at the region, with something to please all. For our fashion-conscious readers, be sure to check out our winter wardrobe tips. Music fans will enjoy our look at famous bar and bandroom The Evelyn Hotel, while some of you may be interested to learn about Fitzroy newcomer Absinthesalon, proudly hosting Australia’s largest collection of the world’s finest absinthe, right on our doorstep! A first for Inner Circle, we’re also excited to include short fiction, with ‘Friendly Fire’ by local author Robert Lastdrager sure to entertain.
This month we also spent some time chatting with some of the people at the Centre for Multicultural Youth, who are really making a difference for young people from diverse backgrounds within our community and beyond. In hearing their stories, we are reminded that despite global political tensions causing uncertainty for all of us, real people on the ground continue to focus on making lives better for others and ensuring inclusivity for all.
Be sure to also explore our new What’s On Guides, all of which you can find at the beginning of each of the Arts, Fashion, Community and Music sections, making sure you’ll never miss a trick in the region again!
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Inner Circle Magazine Issue 6 - August 2017
August is upon us, and with that there is light at the end of the long winter tunnel. But we are not quite there yet, and so for now we will still be wrapping up warm and continuing to indulge in the comforts the inner north has to offer.
And indulgence is a sin we admittedly enjoy here at Inner Circle, and so this issue sees us encourage your foodie gluttony as we speak with Melbourne food blogger Pamela Yip of Munching Melbourne, who guides us through the perfect foodie day in the region, from breakfast, to brunch, to dinner and beyond.
Continuing the theme of food, we also explore local community dining experience PeaceMeals. Far less about gluttony, and more about indulging in commune and sharing, here you will learn about the people behind PeaceMeals, and what makes this community project so inspiring – after reading this, we’re sure you’ll be attending a PeaceMeals event soon!
There is no doubt that creativity is a bedrock of the inner north, and we are always inspired by the number of extraordinary and varied artists, designers, musicians and other creatives that continue to thrive in our region. And with such creativity firmly in our sights, this issue sees us chat with local fashion and canopy designer Aidan Beyer of Tetrik, with Lucy Parkinson and Gonzalo Varela, the couple behind the wondrous Magic Lantern Studio on Brunswick St., and with Andy Hayden of Poison City Records, who has played an important role in the local music scene for the last 14 years.
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Inner Circle Magazine Issue 7 - September 2017
It’s been a long and chilly winter, but as September rolls in so does Spring. And with a smile on our faces we finally get to wave goodbye to the chilliest days of the year! Hoorah!
Speaking of smiles, we kick off Issue 7 by delving into the wonderful world of circus with Collingwood based CircusOz. Speaking with Artistic Director Rob Tannin, we find out that circus is not only about laughs and stunts, but about bringing communities together though this unique and accessible artform. And if you’ve ever wanted to run away and join the circus, we also hear from flying trapeze trainer Bronwyn Stevens, who tells us all about the CircusOz circus school and how you can get directly involved.
Another thing that makes most inner northerners smile is an exquisite cup of coffee. But with bucket loads of this most perfect of drinks consumed in our region each day, many of us neglect to consider the waste and potential harm to the environment that our excessive consumption of the good stuff can cause. And so to find out what we can do to negate any such risks, we explore Reground – a local community initiative that is working hard to curb the environmental impact of our coffee obsession.
September also sees cocktail connoisseurs and Fitzroy favourites Polly Bar celebrate 18 years in operation. Speaking with owner Nora Gordon and Manager Dave Whitehead, we find out what makes this Brunswick St. institution so special, and how they intend to celebrate their coming of age!
For lovers of fashion, we have a great chat with the team behind local label Flux – who got to know each other as punks, and ended up making some of the hippest menswear in Melbourne. We also take a look at local hip-hop mag Thank Guard, to see how they’re helping the next generation of grassroots Australian hip-hop talent reach a wider audience.
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Inner Circle Magazine Issue 8 - October 2017
Issue 8 sees us focus on the big debate that seems to be everywhere right now – the upcoming Marriage Equality vote. Why it is a debate at all, and not a given that all should have basic equal rights in modern Australia, I really don’t know. But as we spoke to people locally to get their opinions on the matter, the sentiment was clear, honest, loud and overwhelming, with every single person we asked backing equality, and signalling their intention to vote YES!
Away from the big political issues, we have another fantastic exploration of Melbourne’s inner north in store! Our latest ‘arts’ feature focusses on tattoos, as we speak with a number of leading, local tattoo artists to get their opinion on the proliferation of tattoos, and how they got started in this booming creative industry.
As the warmer weather teases us, I inevitably start to think of sipping a good ol’ G&T in the sunshine! As such, we decided to have a chat with local gin distillers Dave Irwin and Matt Argus of Brunswick’s Patient Wolf Gin. Here, we find out more about their exciting local project, and what makes the perfect G&T!
This month we also find out how we can enhance our fashion wardrobes while also helping to fund some great causes along the way. Chatting with Yvonne Clarnette of Save the Children and Teresita Denegri of Red Cross, we learn about the great work both organisations are doing, and how updating our wardrobes at one of their local op shops can help fund these great causes.
Finally, we catch up with up and coming hip-hop, dancehall and soul artists Bahdoesa, as they tell us about their motivations, their unique live shows, and what we can expect from their upcoming residency throughout October at Collingwood venue The Tote.
See Inner Circle Magazine Issue 8
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Inner Circle Magazine Issue 9 - November 2017
Spring is in full swing! And at last, more often than not, we can enjoy sunshine, picnics, festivals, beer gardens, open air cinemas and BBQ’s... yes, friends of the inner north, November well and truly has it all, and the good vibes are already infectious!
Inevitably, good vibes and sunshine often leads to celebration and a big night out. But no big night out is ever truly complete without a late night venture to the nearest food joint. The inner north is not short of an establishment willing and able to satisfy our late night hunger pangs, and so our resident foodie Nina McQueen takes us on exploration of the best after hours eateries our region has to offer.
Taking centre stage in the arts section this month is Kim Hyunji. Brought up in South Korea, and now based in Brunswick, Kim comes straight off the back off a hugely successful exhibition at Backwoods Gallery in Collingwood to give us a little insight into the process behind her unique, insightful and alluring portraiture craft.
The concept of community is highly valued in the inner north, and as such we often see ourselves as accepting, open and tolerant. What we are less inclined to recognise is our increasing apathy to what is happening around us, as we suffer fatigue and burnout. So we take a look at the upcoming two-day Thrive Symposium. Helping us learn how to connect, communicate and co-create, we find out more about this exciting, collaborative event, and how we can get involved.
This issue also sees us take a look at local fashion label JUDE. The perfect antithesis to multinational fast fashion and the epitome of Melbourne in more ways than one, this exciting, Fitzroy based label is something that begs to be worn. We speak with founder and lead designer Jude Ng, to find out more about the motivation and inspiration behind this awesome local label.
Finally, this month’s music feature sees us delve into the world of spontaneity and the unknown, and there’s only one genre that can truly take us there – jazz. Here we catch up with multi-award winning jazz pianist Andrea Keller, as she invites us to take a look at Melbourne’s unique jazz scene.
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Inner Circle Magazine Issue 10 - December 2017
Summer is here, and we at Inner Circle are enjoying every sunny second, with the inner north already having enjoyed street parties, festivals and other open air events with much more to come over the holiday season and beyond!
Outdoor celebration is certainly one of the themes of issue 10, with our summer picnic hotspots feature taking centre stage. Having researched the best picnic spots our fine region has to offer, and having compiled the ultimate list of local foodie joints ready and willing to supply your picnic goodies, we have your inner north picnic summer sorted! Not only that, we’ve also listed our top picks of bars and hotels to head to for an after picnic drink to keep the good times coming!
As we approach Christmas and the holiday season, this issue also sees us chat with some of the people behind local social enterprises Arts Project Australia of Northcote, The Social Studio of Collingwood and Scarf of Fitzroy, to find out about the good work they do in the local community, and what they have planned this Christmas.
Moving on to music and the arts, this issue also sees us catch up with Nic Cester of multi-million album selling band Jet, as he discusses his exciting new solo project, Jet’s upcoming gig at Zoo Twilights in Parkville, and of course the inner north. We also take a closer look at Collingwood’s Academy of Design Australia, to learn more about this creative powerhouse, with some great tips for students looking to embark on a career in design.
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Inner Circle Magazine Issue 11 - January 2018
To get us kicked off, and with summer in full swing, be sure to check out our preview and guide to the ultimate summer concert series Melbourne has to offer – Zoo Twilights. Held locally at Melbourne Zoo in Parkville, this summer music feast features a staggering line up of local and international artists that will keep us dancing from late January right through until March.
This issue also sees us introduce our first food trail map for the inner north. Designed to help you find the best and most delicious eats in the region, be sure to check out this month’s map, showcasing the very best of Fitzroy!
Staying in Fitzroy, this issue also sees us take a look at boutique perfumery Le Labo. Conceptualised as far away as New York and endorsed by some of the biggest celebrity names out there, we find out what shapes and drives this most exclusive of cruelty-free perfume brands, and how they have turned a desire to be the very best into reality.
Our community feature this month looks at Abbotsford based FareShare. This epic team of up to 900 volunteers works tirelessly to help those in Australia facing food insecurity. Cooking up to 5000 free meals a day using surplus supermarket food that would otherwise have gone to waste, the project has rapidly grown to become Australia’s largest charity kitchen.
Lastly, for lovers of the arts, we investigate the works of world renowned street artist Smug. With some iconic works in the inner north, and having collaborated with local street art agency Juddy Roller, we find out how Smug is helping to usher in a new era of street art culture.
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Inner Circle Magazine Issue 12 - February 2018
February’s Issue 12 is packing quite a punch, and our focus is very much on getting back to basics in highlighting the best of what is happening in the north right now. Kicking things off, our Arts Feature is all about White Night, hitting our city for a full twelve hours straight from 7pm on Saturday 17th Feb. Delving a little into the history of the event and looking at what we can expect this year, both locally and city-wide, our exploration of this cultural phenomenon is not to be missed.
Our Community feature this month sees us take a look at The Fitzroy Mills Market. This fledgling addition to our weekly shopping calendar is something we feel has been missing in our local community – a dedicated fresh veggie, fruit and more market with a focus on wellness. Southside has had Prahran Markets for as long as we can remember, but now we have The Fitzroy Mills!
The theme of highlighting the best of the region this month continues with our very special feature, ‘The Inner North Fashion Trail’. Here you can follow our mapped guide and explore some of the best fashion spots in the region. Fashionistas, this one is for you!
Last, but certainly not least, our Music feature this month sees us preview one of the annual highlights of the local music scene, March’s Brunswick Music Festival. Celebrating 30 years and hitting Sydney Road and beyond from the 3rd of next month, this music extravaganza is going to absolutely smash it.
