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In one of the largest community arts projects in Australia’s history, the Collingwood Housing Estate has transformed through street art. Minister for Planning, Richard Wynne MP and Juddy Roller have teamed up with renowned street artist Matt Adnate to create the tallest mural in the Southern Hemisphere.
The work takes up the entire city-facing wall of one of Collingwood Housing Estate’s three 20-storey, 220-apartment tower blocks. The work profiles four of the estate’s residents and seeks to celebrate the multicultural community that calls the estate home.
Adnate, Street Art Australia for Juddy Roller. Image © Nicole Reed Photography
The residents chosen to represent the neighbourhood include: 6-year-old Arden Watson-Cropley and 5-year-old Ni Na Nguyen, both of whom are being raised in the flats by their single-parent mothers; grandmother Badria Abdo from Oromia, Ethiopia who lives with disability restrictions and came to Australia as a refugee in 2006; and Yulius Antares Taime, a newer resident who relocated to Australia from West Papua, Indonesia just over a year ago.
Adnate, Street Art Australia for Juddy Roller. Image © Nicole Reed Photography
Adnate, Street Art Australia for Juddy Roller. Image © Nicole Reed Photography
Adnate, Street Art Australia for Juddy Roller. Image © Nicole Reed Photography
Adnate, Street Art Australia for Juddy Roller. Image © Nicole Reed Photography
Adnate Paints the Tallest Mural in the Southern Hemisphere to Celebrate Public Housing and Multiculturalism, Melbourne 2018. Adnate, Street Art Australia for Juddy Roller. Image © Nicole Reed Photography
Standing tall on Collingwood’s Wellington Street, the estate was built in the 1960s as part of a controversial urban renewal program after the Second World War. Today, it remains one of Melbourne’s largest public housing estates, with over 2500 residents.
Adnate, Street Art Australia for Juddy Roller. Image © Nicole Reed Photography
Having grown up in Fitzroy himself, Adnate has relished the opportunity to work with the local community — in particular, Collingwood Neighbourhood House, to ensure that the mural is an authentic representation of the Collingwood Housing Estate precinct and its residents.
Adnate, Street Art Australia for Juddy Roller. Image © Nicole Reed Photography
To prepare for the project, Adnate facilitated a series of artist pop-up events at the estate. These events served a dual purpose of giving residents the opportunity to learn more about what was in store with the mural while providing Adnate with a chance to meet potential subjects for his work. Adnate and Juddy Roller say that the project sees them united by a desire to break down social barriers and leave a positive mark on the community. Not only will the mural be visible to passers-by in Collingwood but also to occupants in high-rise buildings in the CBD — visually connecting the city’s commercial hub with this very special community in what is considered the cultural heart of Melbourne.
Adnate, Street Art Australia for Juddy Roller. Image © Nicole Reed Photography
“This is such an important project for me; the inner north is our home, and the communities of Collingwood and Fitzroy, in particular, are our friends and our neighbours. These are the people that make our part of the world so special. While the project has been three years in the making, it has been an absolute privilege to be able to help create something that represents and truly reflects the richness and diversity of our community.” Shaun Hossack Founder Juddy Roller
Adnate, Street Art Australia for Juddy Roller. Image © Nicole Reed Photography
Despite some residents still experiencing social disadvantage, Collingwood Housing Estate has become a cherished home for many. The project, which has been three years in the making, has been backed by Martin Foley MP’s portfolios of Creative Industries and Housing. Member of Parliament for the local Richmond electorate for 19 years,
“It’s a celebration of the residents who are living in the Wellington St towers and an acknowledgment of the importance of public housing as a safe, affordable and secure place to live.” Planning Minister Richard Wynne
Adnate, Street Art Australia for Juddy Roller. Image © Nicole Reed Photography
Photo Credit Nicole Reed Photography
