YouTuber Anthony Lees, Spanian, visits Melton as part of ‘Into The Hood’ Melbourne’s most notorious suburbs series

A high profile YouTube star who films himself touring `hoods across the country dropped into Melton for one of his latest instalments.

YouTube star Spanian, or Anthony Lees, visited Melton where hundreds of people stormed the streets to meet him. Picture: YouTube

A Viral YouTuber caught the train out to Melbourne’s western fringe to share the stories of former criminals and drug addicts who were raised in Melton.

But not everyone agreed with the depiction of the suburb.

Spanian, or Anthony Lees, visited the area in part two of his Melbourne series for ‘Into the Hood’, where he explores notorious suburbs across Australia and the world.

Earlier this year, he took to the streets of Dandenong and just last week there were wild scenes as hundreds of fans clashed with police in Logan, south of Brisbane.

Hundreds of Melton residents swarmed YouTube star Spanian when he arrived for his ‘Into the Hood’ series.Picture: YouTube

The former criminal, raised in Sydney, has amassed over half a million Instagram followers and more than 80 million views for the YouTube series alone, with his Melton video already gaining 710,000 views within 48 hours.

The video, somewhat humorously, begins with him bemoaning the hour-long wait times for V/Line trains to Melton as he’s forced to kill time around Southern Cross Station and let his mates know he’ll be late.

Spanian was accompanied by followers through Melton to Melton South and Mount Carberry Reserve.
Picture: YouTube

“That’s how dead this place must be, hourly trains that go there … this is apparently the lowest socio-economic part of Melbourne, it’s just a full poor run down area,” Spanian said.

The video, however, split viewers as it turned into a mass fanfare with many keen to talk to Spanian while others believed it did not provide an authentic account of the area.

He arrived at Melton station where he was instantly met by people.

Spanian has filmed the series across Australia to celebrate hood culture and the people who are from there.
Picture: YouTube

After being dropped in the ‘bird’s nest’ — a block of streets surrounding Scott St that are named after bird species — the YouTube star was swarmed by hundreds of people.

Spanian then walks to Melton South, dubbed the ‘ghetto’ or ‘Dandenong’ of the area by locals.

The video ends with Spanian and his followers walking through Melton South to Mount Carberry Reserve where more stories were shared.

Spanian toured several neighbourhoods with locals.
Picture: YouTube

But not all locals agreed with the depiction of the suburb, with comments and posts flooding local community pages.

“I’m from Melton, this video set us back 100 years cringe af,” one comment read.

“This is so not the Melton I know. We do come from all walks of life here … I’ve seen, met and know some absolutely amazing wonderful people, this is so staged, said one woman.

Dozens of kids followed the influencer throughout the video sharing their account of growing up in Melton. Picture: YouTube

“I watched and was actually shaking my head in embarrassment, and disbelief that Melton was made to look scummy. I moved here five years ago from Albanvale and I feel one hundred per cent safer here,” another woman said.
“Next time he shouldn’t announce he is coming to a town and let people see the real town,” one man added.
Melton City Council mayor Kathy Majdlik said the region was a diverse, talented and connected community making it a great place to live.

“We’re disappointed by the video and acknowledge some of the challenges raised are a reality for many suburbs and towns around Australia,” Ms Majdlik said.