Northcote Rise

Northcote Portraits — Artist EOI

Calling all artists.

Northcote Portraits is seeking creatives who want to be part of a community art and storytelling project right here on High Street.

Expressions of interest have been open for two weeks — if you've been thinking about applying, now is the time. Submissions close Friday 17 July at 5pm, so don't sit on it. Full details of the project are available via the link in bio.

Say hello to Loku — Sri Lankan home cooking at 298 High Street, Northcote.

takes its name from the Sinhalese word for "elder" — the nickname given to owner and head chef Lanka by her family, and a reflection of the love and care she has always poured into cooking.

That care is on the plate. Sri Lankan home cooking made the way it was always meant to be — rich in flavour, rooted in tradition, and deeply nourishing. The kind of food that reminds you what a good meal can do.

Fragrant, warming, and layered with spice, every dish is built on technique passed down through generations. From slow-cooked curries to the kind of rice and curry spread that makes you want to linger, Loku is the real thing. Comforting, considered, and made with genuine heart.

Loku is one of the newer additions to our precinct and we're so glad she's found her home here on the Rise. Come down to High Street, pull up a seat, and let Lanka cook for you. We have a feeling you won't want to leave.

Winter is when local businesses need you most.

It's cold, it's dark and the couch is calling, but heading out to High Street matters more than you might think.

Every coffee, every meal, every purchase made with our traders helps keep the places you love open and thriving through the quieter months.

Northcote Rise is here all winter — great food, unique retail and welcoming spaces ready to make the trip worth it. Don't hibernate. Your locals are counting on you.

Shop local. Visit local.

If you haven't discovered Inthanon Thai yet, consider this your sign.

Sitting at 182 High Street, Inthanon has quietly built a loyal following among Northcote locals — and it's easy to understand why. Authentic Thai flavours, made with care and served in a space that feels warm and welcoming from the moment you walk in.

From fragrant curries to bold, considered dishes that take you somewhere else entirely, is the kind of neighbourhood restaurant that reminds you why eating local matters.

Whether it's a midweek dinner or a slow weekend meal with people you love, this is High Street dining at its best.

Find them at 182 High Street, Northcote.

.optical is one of High Street's favourites for a reason.

Born out of a love for the finer details, SPECS carry a unique collection of eyewear you won't find on every corner — sourced from small independent designers around the world.

The team are drawn to pieces that strike the balance between function and form, playing with design, craftsmanship and materials until they land on something special.

Whether you're after a proper eye test or the full styling service, the experience is considered from start to finish. You'll walk out with glasses you actually love — frames that feel less like a purchase and more like a find.

Pop into 228a High Street and see what catches your eye.

Teddy Bear Dentist Open Day — this Saturday, 27th June at Paladin Dental, 365 High Street.

The team at are hosting a free family morning to help little ones have a happy, positive first experience at the dentist. Kids are invited to bring along their favourite teddy, and together they'll play dentist, count teeth and take a ride in the chair — all the fun, none of the nerves.

There's plenty more to keep the kids busy, including face painting, hair tinsel, and games with prizes to win. There'll also be a colouring competition, with one lucky entrant taking home a free clean and a goody bag.

Every child who comes along will receive a complimentary kids travel toothbrush kit to take home.

Spots are free but limited. Families can secure their place by booking through the link in Paladin's bio.

There's something about a live gig on a cold winter's night that just hits different.

Northcote Rise has long been a home for live music — and this season, the strip is alive with it. Catch a big ticket show at Northcote Theatre or Northcote Social Club, or find something a little more intimate at 303 the Bar, The Wesley Anne or Piano On High.

Whatever you're after, it's all right here on High Street.

Local bands deserve local crowds and local venues need you. The energy in the room, the discovery of an artist you've never heard before or a favourite you've seen plenty of times — you only get that by showing up.

So this winter, buy the ticket. Support the music. Support the Venue.







Tag someone you'd drag out into the cold for a good gig

📣 Expressions of Interest are now open!

The Northcote Business Association is calling on artists to be part of Northcote Portraits — a new permanent public art and storytelling initiative celebrating the rich First Nations and multicultural stories that shape the Northcote Rise precinct today.

Northcote Portraits will deliver up to 20 small to medium-sized, vibrant street artworks across the precinct, each paired with storytelling that honours the people, cultures, histories and lived experiences that shape who we are. Through creativity and connection, the project aims to strengthen community pride, reflect local identity and transform our public spaces.

Funded through the Victorian State Government's Multicultural Business Precinct Revitalisation Program with support from Darebin Council, the project is being led by the Northcote Business Association alongside local artist .

There are currently 14 sites open for application, with a further 4–5 to come over the next week.

Want to be involved? Head to the link in bio for everything you need to know about the project, the selection criteria and how to apply.

Warm up where it matters — shop local this winter.

When the temperature drops, so does foot traffic — and for small business owners on High Street, that's felt immediately. The same rent, the same wages, the same overheads — with fewer customers coming through the door.

Every coffee, meal, purchase or booking you make on Northcote Rise this winter keeps a local business viable, a local wage paid and a neighbourhood worth coming back to.

The strip needs you. Now more than ever.

Winter has well and truly arrived on High Street — and Northcote Rise has never felt more inviting.

The strip is full of reasons to get out of the house right now. Warm up over a long lunch, find something special to wear, discover a new favourite local haunt or simply take a slow walk past the shopfronts as the cool air settles in.

This is the season that reminds you why neighbourhood matters — and why everything you need is right here on High Street.

Come for the warmth. Stay for the community.

Since opening at 229 High Street, Northcote, Calle Bakery has quickly become one of Northcote Rise’s most loved destinations — with locals and visitors happily lining up for buttery pastries, artisan sourdough and their now-famous croissant creations.

The Northcote bakery builds on the success of Calle’s much-loved Carlton North store, founded by Ellena, Vivian, Huey and Kevin, combining European baking influences with decades of artisan baking experience.

After working closely with the team in Carlton, French baker Guillaume Grappe joined the Northcote venture as part owner, helping bring the new bakery to life.
Originally from the Jura region of France, Guillaume studied philosophy before following his passion for baking across Europe, New Zealand and eventually Melbourne, where he worked in some of the city’s best-known bakeries before joining the Calle team.

Inside everything is made with patience, precision and a deep respect for traditional baking techniques. From naturally fermented sourdough and perfectly laminated pastries to seasonal specials, sandwiches and beautifully crafted sweets, every product is carefully considered and made fresh daily.

Whether you’re grabbing a morning coffee and pastry, taking home a loaf of sourdough or joining the queue for one of their signature croissants, Calle Bakery has quickly become a must-visit destination on High Street.

For more than 20 years, Alchemy Fashion Sewing School & Alchemy Boutique at 258 High Street Northcote has been quietly nurturing creativity, helping people of all ages learn the art of sewing and garment making.

Owner Sandra first opened in 2003, originally creating and selling her own handmade clothing before the sewing school naturally evolved from growing demand.

With a background in teaching, fashion design and working for RMIT in their fashion short course department teaching sewing — and a family history in tailoring — Sandra has built a welcoming space where beginners through to advanced sewers can learn real, practical skills in a supportive environment.

The classes focus on techniques and craftsmanship, teaching everything from zips, darts and buttonholes through to pattern making, fitting and garment construction. Students work at their own pace on their own projects, whether that’s pyjamas, dresses, jackets or completely custom-made pieces.

Sandra says many students arrive with little or no experience, while others return to sewing later in life to reconnect with a creative skill they once loved.

Classes run in 6 week blocks, with bookings available online or by calling 0414 402 914. If you’ve ever dreamed of making your own clothes, this might just be the sign to book your first class.