The Best Street and Public Art in Fitzroy
Fitzroy has some of the best street art outside the central business district of Melbourne.
The best streets are around Brunswick Street, Fitzroy Street, Young Street, Napier Street, Smith Street and Johnston Street. The quality of artwork in the small narrow lanes throughout Fitzroy is low. Stick to the areas around the main streets and their intersections to find the real gems.
Fitzroy Faces mural is on Cecil Street between George Street and Gore Street. Seven of the best Australian and world renowned street artists each created a portrait with the theme of 'Faces of the Community'. The artists of the faces (from left to right) are Cam Scale, Adnate, Dvate, Rone, Jason Parker, Heesco and Sofles.
The area along Rose Street near the Rose Street Artists' Market is covered in street art. At 60 Rose Street there is a huge mural by Grate, Sat, Plea and Deb A.
There is a mural with caricature of faces at the corner Rose Street and Fitzroy Street(south east side)
Large mural on the front facade of Grace Cafe, 76 Rose Street.
The interior and exterior walls of the Fitzroy Mills Car Park at the corner Rose Street and Fitzroy Street (north east side) are covered in street art.
Fitzroy Street and Leicester Street (north east side)
Murals of an indigenous boy and an eagle at the corner of Fitzroy Street and Cecil Street (north east side)
Corner of Fitzroy Street and Cecil Street (north west side)
Crocodile mural at 82 Alexandra Parade, Fitzroy.
Corner Brunswick Street and Westgarth Street (north west side)
Ceramic seat at Corner Brunswick Street and Westgarth Street.
Mural at the corner of Brunswick Street and Westgarth Street (north east side) by Meggs (2014)
International Fire Fighter Union mural at the corner of Brunswick Street and Westgarth Street, Fitzroy (south east side)
Corner Brunswick Street and Leicester Street (north east side)
Corner Brunswick Street and Leicester Street (north east side)
Fitzroy Nursery gate at the corner of Brunswick Street and Leicester Street (south east side)
Corner Brunswick Street and Rose Street (north east side)
Corner Brunswick Street and Rose Street (south west side)
Baby on the wall at the corner of Brunswick Street and Rose Street (south east side).
Monument at the corner of Brunswick Street and Kerr Street, Fitzroy (north west side)
Corner Brunswick Street and Kerr Street (south west side).
Courtyard of the Evelyn Hotel near the corner of Brunswick Street and Kerr Street (north west side along Kerr Street). Mural by Mike Makatron.
Donny Govan Unmissables Mural
In a lane immediately west of the Evelyn Hotel along Kerr Street is a powerful mural which is part of a campaign launched by Missing Persons Advocacy Network called Unmissables. It involves a re-imagining of traditional missing persons posters into vibrant stories and images that reflect the person that family and friends know. It aims to match artists and authors with the family of a long-term missing person, creating a piece of art that portrays the missing person as an individual.
Donny Govan was 16 when he was last seen at a campsite in Echuca on September 1, 2012. He was with his sister and four friends before he ventured into thick bush and never returned.
The mural reads:
"Donny Govan missing since September 2012 made unmissable by Mike Eleven and Elspeth Muir.
Donny Govan, at sixteen, wouldn't leave the house unless he was looking sharp, dressed in streetwear, skate shoes, Lync cologne, and a silver necklace - the one he always wore, the one from his sister Katrina.
Donny - chilled, sociable, sweet, polite, inquisitive - liked motorbikes, his mates, the skate park, Aussie hip-hop and playing X-box, and he loved his brother, his best mate Timmy, and he loved that Katrina was pregnant. "You're mad", he would tell her excited and awed.
Four days after Donny went missing, Harmony, his niece was born, his sister, Rachael, says it's a fitting name, 'she gives us hope that he will return'.
#theunmissables
Missing Donny Govan Facebook Page
In the laneways off Kerr Street immediately to the west of Brunswick Street
Corner Brunswick Street and Argyle Street (south west side)
Statue at the corner of Brunswick Street and Argyle Street (east side)
Corner Brunswick Street and Argyle Street, Fitzroy (north east side)
Dalai Lama mural at the corner of Brunswick Street and Argyle Street (south east side). The mural was painted by Adnate and inspired by a trip to India where he met the holy man.
"Life on Planet Daisyworld" mural on the building at the north west corner of Young Street and Argyle Street by Lachlan Plain.
Corner Brunswick Street and Johnston Street, Fitzroy (south east side) in a lane
The Can-Opener at 288 Brunswick Street. It rammed the Japanese "Oriental Bluebird" which was illegally killing whales in Australian Antarctic Territory. It was presented to Mr Philip Wollen OAM Australia and Kindness House by Captain Paul Watson (USA), Captain Alex Comelisson (The Netherlands) and the crew of the Farley Mowat.
Three ceramic seats at the corner of Brunswick Street and Victoria Street.
Praying mantis By Buzzard (2014) at 173 Victoria Street (just to east of the corner of Brunswick Street and Victoria Street)
Triffid at corner Brunswick Street and Greeves Street, Fitzroy (south west side)
Pavement mosaic at 201 Brunswick Street.
Dragon by Putos at the corner of Brunswick Street and Hanover Street (north west side)
Corner Brunswick Street and Hanover Street, Fitzroy (south west side)
Wall of building at 51 King William Street (just west of Fitzroy Street)
Mural of indigenous boy by Adnate and Slicer at the corner of Fitzroy Street and Johnston Street (south west side)
Corner Fitzroy Street and Johnston Street, Fitzroy (north west side at the back of the building)
Corner Johnston Street and Fitzroy Street (north west). The mural is located at the back of the building.
A Harlem Globetrotters themed mural is also in this area.
Mural on side of house at 348 Fitzroy Street.
Hamburger mural by Mike Makatron next to 227 Smith Street, Fitzroy
Mural by Lucy Lucy (2016) at the corner of Smith Street and Charles Street, Fitzroy (south west side)
Laneway next to 104 Charles Street
Mural by Hatch, Putos, Heesco near 106 Webb Street (just west of Smith Street)
Painted by Rone, one of Melbourne's most famous street artists, who is most known for his large portrait murals. This mural, located at the corner of Smith Street and Peel Street, which features three local artists, was painted for International Women's Day in 2016. The featured woman are:
- Miso, otherwise known as Stanislava Pinchuk, who creates pinpricks work on paper and is one of the youngest artists featured at the National Gallery of Australia
- Bianca Chang, known for her sculpture and work with paper
- Hana Davies, a photographer who works exclusively with film
First lane west on Gertrude Street from Smith Street
Biba salon at the corner of Johnstone Street and Gore Street.
Mural in Chapel Street by Scottie Marsh celebrating Optus' misfortunes broadcasting the 2018 Soccer World Cup.
There are plenty of other murals in Chapel Street, which is home to Juddy Rollers Studios. Drinkwell bar at the corner of Johnstone Street and Chapel Street which has artwork in the outdoor courtyard by artists such as Putos and Jason Parker plus a classic Smug mural above the roof.
Johnstone Street Veterinary Clinic has some animal themed murals along Elliot Street and George Street off Johnstone Street.
At 363 George Street, just north of Johnstone Street is a house covered with artwork by Sofles. Unfortunately, there is now some very ugly tagging on the bottom.
At 200 Argyle Street, west of Gore Street, there is a wall with a mural by Lushsux of Gordon Ramsay at the Australian Tennis Open.
Across the street at 193 and 195 Argyle Street are some interesting murals by Pleb and Ryot. High up is an octopus mermaid.
Corner Johnston Street and Rochester Street. The rainbow mural by Seth, Sirum, Dem 189, Plea and Mike Maka is dedicated to Adriano (2008 - 2014)
Mural by Cam Scale (2015) in Hertford Street, south of Johnstone Street.
Corner Johnstone Street and Young Street (south west)
Stone Hotel, corner Johnstone Street and Brunswick Street (north east)
Corner Napier Street and Greeves Street (north east)
Corner Napier Street and St David Street (south west)
COURAGE Statue at the corner of Napier Street and Moor Street (north west). COURAGE honours the contribution, culture and diversity of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer community. Inspired by the Cowardly Lion character in the story, The Wonderful World of Oz, the statue contemplates what it means to possess the courage to be yourself, no matter who you are, and to face life's challenges with bravery.
COURAGE is also dedicated to the legacy of Ralph McLean (1957 - 2010), Australia's first openly gay elected official (to city of Fitzroy, 1982) and Mayor (1982), an advocate of gay rights and social justice, and a champion of the arts.
Napier Hotel wall by Plutos, Napier Place
Amazing mural by Smug at the corner of Moor Street and Wood Street (south east)
Corner Moor Street and Wood Street (south west)
Corner Moor Street and George Street (south east)
Mural at Acacia Fitzroy Creche and Kindergarten by The Magic Lantern, Lucy Parkinson and Gonzalo Varela at 187 Napier Street.
Yarra Youth Centre, 156 Napier Street
Mural by Sand:, Senekt and Muga at the corner of Napier Street and Westgarth Street (south east)
Beautiful murals on the northern side of Smith Reserve, 180 Alexandra Parade.
Northern wall of the Fitzroy Pool, 160 Alexandra Parade.
Mural by Jaws & Blo (2013) at the corner of Young Street and Alexandra Parade
472 Napier Street (intersection of Napier Street and Alexandra Parade)
Map of Street Art Locations:
Web Links
→ The Best Street and Public Art in Collingwood
→ The Best Street and Public Art in Brunswick
→ The Best Street and Public Art in Windsor, Prahran and South Yarra
→ The Best Street and Public Art in Richmond, Cremorne and Abbotsford
