Finding the Divinyls’ singer in Victoria takes in journeys in Geelong and central Melbourne.
In 2013 I joined Chrissy Amphlett’s husband, Cold Chisel drummer Charley Drayton; her cousin Patricia ‘Little Pattie’ Amphlett; Time Out Melbourne editor Jenny Valentish and Chrissy’s agent and friend Fran Moore, in campaigning for Amphlett Lane.
The award-winning Tasmanian artist Peter Gouldthorpe immortalised Chrissy’s dogs in what used to be an anonymous corporation lane, adjacent to the Princess Theatre and Palace Theatre – and the sign went up.
Armed with brushes and paints (in a shopping trolley) Peter recreated his well-known Tasmanian Trompe l’œil style (French for “deceives the eye”) taking the two-dimensional surface of street walls, to three-dimensional space.
It was fascinating to watch him and even today, Chrissy’s larger-than-life dogs watch over her laneway.
Google Search reveals millions of people have been looking for Amphlett Lane ever since Peter created his iconic tribute, complete with school uniform.
How can you find your own Casual Encounter with Chrissy though? It has to begin in Geelong, with her childhood.
CHRISSY AMPHLETT PASSED AWAY IN 2013.
She revealed her multiple sclerosis to the world in 2007 and three years later, in 2010, told her fans she also had breast cancer. Three years later, she was gone but like all great rock stars, she lives on every time you hear her on the radio.
Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman made her famous with a different, older, theatrical audience (The Boy From Oz) but it’s still Divinyl’s massive hit anthem, I Touch Myself (from the Austin Powers soundtrack) which most people know best. After she passed, it became a clever way of reminding women to self-check for breast cancer.
Finding the Murals in Geelong
Two murals on Little Malop Street (one off to the side, but both easily found) immortalise Chrissy Amphlett in the centre of Geelong. Start at 50 Little Malop Street, home to Geelong Arts Centre.
You can then drive to to the two streets where she grew up, and the two schools she attended.
The Glen Smith Mural is a few steps away from the Ian Lowe mural.
You’ll find it at McLarty Place.
Walking With Chrissy
In the new expanded edition of her autobiography Pleasure and Pain, recorded as an audiobook by Robin McLeavy – Chrissy recalls her childhood.
“The gum tree and paling-fence-lined paths and nature strips of Belmont” just outside Geelong are still there, when you visit today.
The Amphletts had a weatherboard bungalow in Eton Road, which Chrissy described as her ‘childhood stage.’ Her hats came from Myer, in town.
THE SMALL BUT DETERMINED AMPHLETT entertained the locals, with the Geelong Musical Comedy Company, reciting from A.A. Milne at the old Plaza Theatre.
Today it’s the Geelong Performing Arts Centre which is a short stroll from great local cafes.
Also on Little Malop Street, you can find Chrissy’s two huge, impressive Geelong murals.
Divinyls played her home town on the big stage at the Arts Centre on April 17th 1991. She’d definitely made it by then, beating all the Boys In Town.
In New York, though, Chrissy’s career went much, much higher.
Finding her origins in the modest buildings at Roslyn Primary School and Belmont High, you wonder how she soared quite so far in such a short space of time.
Today, Roslyn Primary School has a space ship logo, ‘Rocketing to success’ which is a nod to her achievements.
Chrissy in Melbourne CBD
You can take a self-guided stroll around Chrissy’s Melbourne from her laneway off Little Bourke Street, to her school uniform in a glass case.
This free self-guided walk, with a map, is a Staff Pick at Walking Maps.
For fans of Chrissy Amphlett and Divinyls, it takes about 2km and half an hour.
You’ll start at Amphlett Lane, to the side of Little Bourke Street, adjacent to the Princess Theatre where Chrissy played, and in front of the destroyed Palace Theatre, now a hotel (many musicians, including Nick Cave and Chrissy, also played here).
A Favourite Boutique
You can also visit the site of a favourite boutique, where Chrissy and her husband Charley would shop for her clothes. Cose Ipanema was at the Paris end of Collins Street.
The Regent Theatre
Still on Collins Street, Chrissy picked up one of many awards here.
The House of Merivale and Mr. John
This is where Chrissy worked, selling the hippest fashion of the day to Melbourne locals.
The Australian Music Vault
This final stop on the walk houses one of Chrissy’s original school uniforms and also holds Patricia Amphlett’s shoes.
This incredible mini-museum of Australian music is interactive. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants in and around The Australian Music Vault to end your walk.
It can be fun to stroll Geelong and central Melbourne with Chrissy on your headphones. What’s your favourite song? Mine varies all the time, but Love In Motion, her duet with Iva Davies, has a certain resonance on St. Valentine’s Day every year, when fans leave roses in Amphlett Lane.
