• Lady Bananas and Tomahawk from Artists Anonymous Collective are keen to join the anti-merger campaign—and suggest a giant mural down the side of the old Myer building. Photo by Jeremy Dixon
Street artists join merger fight
Local artists are planning to “paint” the port city to protest the Barnett government’s plans to merge Fremantle with Melville.
Lady Bananas from Artists Anonymous Collective—the group behind the mural at South Beach kiosk and at Stevens Reserve—says plans are afoot for a creative campaign that may include painting a huge “Leave Fremantle Alone” mural on the old Myer building.
“We can actively help shape the future we wish to create for Fremantle. And protect the culture we love so much from changing drastically in ways that we as a community do not see as suitable,” she says.
Mayor Brad Pettitt says building owner Sirona—the council’s development partner for Kings Square—is “open” to a mural as “long as it is fun and positive”.
“The rough texture of external surface might make it a little tricky though,” he believes.
“The other option we are exploring is the navy store (the historic cream building on Canning Highway, at the foot of Cantonment Hill) as it would be hugely visible and equally iconic as you came across the old bridge.
“Either way, I love the idea of street art as a way of celebrating all that is unique about Fremantle in an alternative, very Freo kind of way.”
Lady Bananas says Fremantle’s new graffiti-friendly policy could be at risk if conservative Melville council takes the port city reins.
“It’s not just going to change the artistic side, it will change services with less staff, there will be less resources,” she says.
David Pensabene from Fremantle Forever says a merger will squash the port city’s unique cultural identity.
“A mega-council of 150,000 with a centre in either Booragoon or Murdoch is just not going to facilitate the specific requirements of this historic port,” he says.
“Cultural, heritage, community values and issues as we as a community face are not going to be as important to the city of Melville.
“They could decide they don’t like heritage building and they want more high-rise—they could make all these decisions.”
Fremantle Forever is holding a rally and concert at the Fremantle Arts Centre on September 1 from 2pm.
by BRENDAN FOSTER