Byron Bay

Bryon Bay is possibly Australia's most cliched town. It promotes itself as a progressive alternative laid back destination. Upon entry you greeted with the "Welcome to Bryon Bay, cheer up, slow down and chillout" sign. Which is a total joke, given you need spare 2.8 million dollars just to reach the median house price. This hype town is guarded fiercely with exclusivity. Its symbolic of the growing divide wedging the working class in Australia. Go no further to find the housing crisis, a classic situation replicated throughout coastal regional towns. The same issue found when searching for rentals in places like the Surf Coast in Victoria. Bryon maintains a larger than life status catering primarily to visitors, with a small population nudging 6,000 people. Everyone in Australia knows about Bryon even if they've never been. It's long departed from its counter-culture roots transformed from a sleepy surf village. The rich and famous of Bryon in 2025 chase clout as the modern form of currency. 

Bryon Pay

Source

   

But now to the graffiti and street art culture. There is potentially no other town in Australia quite like it. Small towns of this size rarely have a graffiti scene or culture. However Bryon's different. Despite the few privileged multi-millionaire residents it still pulls creative types as travellers. It's known as a hub for arts and music. Graffiti seeps through the town on back walls and onto industrial buildings. Comparable towns elsewhere in Australia might have a few scruffy tags on a back-alley way or a mural on a silo if they're lucky. Bryon however, holds its own and fortunately the scene remains organic and not over-run with street art murals.  

Sitting on the highpoint in the landscape the Bryon Bay water tank is a prominent standout feature. The tank was originally painted Ian Walker in 1989. For three days a week for a whole year he painted the water tank. It contains the depiction of Bryon Bay through many elements of coastal lifestyle and history with quirky character. 

Sofles

Getnup known for reaching up to paint blockbuster rollies

 

Original mural

Water tank in 2007

now

Launceston

Since there is lots of other websites, fb pages and blogs devoted to inner-city graffiti and more so street art, here's some regional graffiti for balance from Tasmania's Northern city, Launceston.

Burnie's Creative Side

Just last year saw the demolition of an iconic abandoned building in Burnie. Nestled right next to the Bass Hwy, this building was a part of another era. It was abandoned for close to ten years and the Burnie Tourism Association wanted it demolished. This was the Burnie hub for street-art and graffiti until it was knocked down last year. Further information on http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/692823/burnie-eyesore-still-standing/

 Before

 After

 Roof of the Building

The wall that faced the Bass Hwy.

Launceston Throw-up

Throw-up with unusual use of 3D outline and a overall black outline. These colours makes this throw-up stand out.

Deviant Devonport in Tasmania

Devonport a small regional town in Northern Tasmania of around 20,000 people. Its main claim to fame is the Spirit of Tasmania terminal which enables people to bring their car to the South island. This has got to be one of the smallest Australian towns with graffiti pieces. Under the Bass Hwy Bridge over the Mersey river is a different style of art. Pieces without traditional colours or styles, a different art culture. The main constricting factor for graffiti to proliferate in small towns is a lack of wall space. But also hard to attract that artistic culture which just flourishes in places like Melbourne.  

Spraytown (Spreyton), Tasmania

Nothings more interesting then a small regional town and its graffiti. Spreyton, South of Devonport on the North coast is a small town with less than a 1000 individuals. This probably makes it the smallest town I have ever seen a graff wall and throw-ups.

Although it maybe lacking in quality this wall puts small town Spreytown on the map.