Push for more murals across Melbourne’s neighbourhoods

A new City of Melbourne push could see more blank walls across the municipality transformed into large-scale murals, with councillors to consider investigating a co-funded program for private property owners.

Cr Andrew Rowse will move a motion at the August 18 Future Melbourne Committee meeting calling on council management to report back by the end of November on ways to increase the quantity, quality and geographic spread of public-facing murals.

Central to the proposal is an investigation into an Urban Mural Fund, which could see the council and private building owners share the cost of commissioning artists to transform prominent walls overlooking streets, laneways, parks and business precincts.

Cr Rowse said the aim was to encourage more property owners to work with local artists rather than leave large walls blank or vulnerable to tagging.

The motion argues that privately owned buildings account for a significant proportion of Melbourne’s most visible wall space, but the cost of artists, design, project management and installation can discourage owners from commissioning works.

It asks the council to explore a pilot across different neighbourhoods and building types, while considering requirements around owner consent, maintenance, minimum display periods and what happens when properties are sold or redeveloped.

The proposal would also examine whether murals could help activate business precincts, support Melbourne’s creative sector and reduce recurrent graffiti on frequently targeted walls.

The motion comes after the disappearance of a popular mural on the corner of Errol and Queensberry streets in North Melbourne caused considerable disappointment in the local community.

The wildlife-themed work, painted by Blender Studios artists Adrian Doyle and Matt Hannah in 2023, was painted over in June despite having become a recognised neighbourhood feature. Its removal also highlighted the vulnerability of public-facing artworks located on privately owned buildings.

The push follows another recent local call for more public art, with cycling advocate Aaron Moon urging council to transform CityLink’s concrete columns along Moonee Ponds Creek into a “silo art trail”.

Mr Moon pointed to existing Indigenous waterway-themed murals beneath CityLink in neighbouring Flemington as an example of how otherwise stark infrastructure could become an attraction while discouraging graffiti.

Cr Rowse’s motion specifically seeks to expand mural opportunities beyond Melbourne’s famous central-city street-art locations such as Hosier Lane and into neighbourhoods across the municipality.

It also calls for the council to study successful programs elsewhere, including Montreal’s internationally recognised mural initiatives, and consider ways of attracting further private and philanthropic investment.

If supported, councillors would receive a report on possible models and costs before the end of November. •