Apollo Bay-sticker scene

 Almost three hours drive from Melbourne and you'll find yourself in a bustling little coastal town. Apollo Bay sits nestled in the Otway's with coast, heathland and some of the wettest Rainforest in Victoria. Regional towns that have a high influx of seasonal visitors brings a diversity of backgrounds. The surf and skate scene are often interwoven with graffiti. These towns often have greater emphasis on artistic and environmental scene that can give rise to these localised graffiti scenes in unexpected places. Just back up the road is the famous Bells Beach for surfing near Torquay. Apollo Bay is just one of a string of coastal hamlets situated along the Great Ocean Rd where international descend upon in droves. All trying catch a glimpse of the eroding and disappearing Twelve Apostles. Whilst there is a general absence of traditional aerosol graffiti the sticker scene is thriving in town. There's an acceptance that this fits in with the local streetscape of the town. 

Nearby Cool Temperate Rainforest of Triplet Falls

40 hour week

Graffiti sits in our peripheral vision. Often just behind us, above us or in front of us and yet we still don't see it. Through the clutter of traffic and the silence amongst noise is art scattered in precarious positions. This building just behind the Bank has become the perfect spot to paint. Long sweeping views downslope provides the pedestrian with a cinematic experience. Amongst the work is internationally famous, US based former couple Utah and Ether from their 2016 spray-cation. To beggars belief a series of old Bonez throw-ups from 70K crew potentially circa early 2000's.   

 

Panels running yesterday-Hurstbridge Line

 

Go down the drains

 

Out and about in Dandenong South

Graffiti is a product of its environment. Where it appears and disappears is relative to public and corporate sentiment. Industrial walls are the backbone of the graffiti scene. Usually scattered in middle and outer suburbs of most cities adjacent to a reserve or a creek. These walls mark the edge of land that defines productive and unutilised lands. In the middle this dead space exists. Here we find the concrete walls nestled and hidden in suburbia. It's one of the last acceptable spaces where graffiti can exist. Almost everywhere else it it battles and competes for space to some extent. Out of sight but not out of mind for the graffiti artist. 

Until you facilitate chill spaces to paint, expect tags and throw-ups to proliferate. Those are quick ways to get up in a society driven by the buff. That's why industrial back walls are essential to the scene. They provide time and space needed to produce burners. 

fresh pieces by SDM crew

Prix-AFP constantly redefining letterform with a unique abstract take. Some artists just flat out wash, rinse, repeat on style, Prix doesn't. Others push the boundaries. Always altering, adjusting, concocting new styles. The more stripped back and simple the harder it gets.

 

Rural tennis courts

Abandoned, north central Victoria

 

Jewel Spiders upon entrance

The New York connection Claw, PMS crew

Claudia Gold better known as Claw graffiti artist from New York in the 1980's. She's one of world's most well-known graffiti writers with the iconic claw. Symbolising strength Claw started the PMS graffiti crew-stands for Power, Money, Sex or Painting Mad Spots etc. In counter-culture of graffiti Claw shows a strong presence in a male dominated sport. One of the early pioneering women alongside other artists of that era like Lady Pink. Both grew up on the ethos of painting trains, seen as the penultimate prized spot for getting up. Alongside other artists including Utah both Lady Pink and Claw appear in Girl Power a 2016 movie featuring women in graffiti in solidarity with artists across the world including Australia.  

Here Claw arrives in Melbourne for a solo show in regional Warrnambool exhibition until 16th of March 2025. 

As she's gained notoriety Claw has taken her art to become a fashion icon. Traversing the artworld from the streets into stores and producing artwork for many brands. Ironic that a brand she developed originally for the streets becomes the brand the businesses want to buy a piece of for their pie. For some in graffiti that's sell-out. For many, graffiti stays and lives on the streets and can't be bought or sold. But here Claw shows us, a path of natural evolution carved that works for her. Whether a story of selling out or success of making it, you be the judge. Regardless of your opinion, she undoubtedly left a mark and transformed and trailblazed a space for women in a hypermasculine scene.    

Fitzroy mural

When the New York trains were painted inside and out Lady Pink

Morwell's un-serviced service station

This petrol station in Traralgon lies two hours east of Melbourne. This servo sits amongst residential housing which probably explains the lack of graffiti. For people interested in graffiti or urban exploration they see the beauty in decay. Society however, doesn't appreciate or understand this natural cycle of life, death and decay. We are forever chasing a clean-cut, young, fresh image and hold unrealistic views as to how our towns and cities should look. Most new architecture is totally devoid of character and is disgusting to look at. A homogeneous housing estate in Pakenham is much more of an eyesore than this dilapidated petrol station. 

 'Eyesore' frustration, Latrobe Valley Express article

Bong spots, Drains and Graffiti

Welcome to Eastern Melbourne. Go down the drains and explore. 

Brunswick Brickworks

On the corner of Brickworks drive and Dawson St in Brunswick lies the old Brunswick Brickworks. Also known as the Hoffman Brickworks patented brick and tile company (Hoffman referring to Prussian Frederich Hoffman) initially began in 1870 and operated until 1960. The company benefited and developed operations with assistance from the Melbourne Housing Boom 1870-1890.

During the 1890's several brickworks formed a co-operative to share work, regulate prices and quality. By the co-op reducing production of bricks, the prices increased. A Royal Commission into the brick-making industry alleged the co-op was responsible for high prices and poor quality bricks. The government set up a state run brick works in Thornbury in an attempt to create competition. This lasted for a short period with the state run brickworks undercutting Hoffmans, however its operations were later sold to private company Clifton Holdings.

Following which a depression in 1890 and to add to the struggle for survival was the post World War One Depression, which reduced the demand for bricks. In 1960 it was sold to Clifton Holdings and then to Nubrik where production ceased in 1993. Part of the site has been sold to developers in 1996. Other parts of the site have not been developed. The Hoffman Brickworks are listed on the Victorian Heritage Database. http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/172

This map shows the operation buildings and clay pits where the raw material was obtained onsite (now Clifton Park and Gilpin Park). Steam-power was used to transport the raw clay material to be shaped and then set by the coal kilns. 

Source-http://www.ashadocs.org/aha/07/07_04_Stuart.pdf

Aerial view of Brickworks- http://www.performingmobilities.net/wp-content/uploads/webFiles/traces_gallery/opSpWork/OSW_Web_03l.jpg

Wall space for pieces is limited.

Psalm's  post on the Brickworks..

http://psalmantics.blogspot.com.au/search?q=Brunswick

                        (Psalm's tag can be seen at almost any abandoned building in Melbourne)

There's loads of holes in the 2nd level so don't fall through

One of Melbourne's most prolific bombers, Pork

Disused Brickworks building on the left with the contrasting new apartments on the right.

For extra photos of the site http://www.walkingmelbourne.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6384

Information on the Victorian Brick Industry 1826-1920

http://www.library.uq.edu.au/ojs/index.php/aa/article/download/1534/1522

Urban Exploration video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4S5xqkCmCA