The war on graffiti is an ongoing battle for the ACT Government but there’s some historic graffiti that has escaped the pressure cleaner’s nozzle.
Hidden inside the 79-meter-tall Australian-American memorial at Russell (Bugs Bunny to locals) is graffiti from the 1950s to the 1980s and it makes for interesting reading (language warning).
One particular M. Grady, on 14 August 1987 (at 10:30am, smoko), signed his name and stated the fact that he was located at a certain part of the American eagle’s anatomy.
The psychology around graffiti is fascinating, some people feel compelled to make their mark – perhaps for recognition, identity affirmation, or rebellion against society.
One O. Wilson signed his name in bold red paint on 22 December 1953, around the time when construction first started on the brand new sandblasted aluminium column, in Field Marshal Sir Thomas Blamey Square.
Graffiti may not be profound (or spelled correctly), but it acts as a “here I am” statement, transforming public spaces into canvases for self-expression, thrill-seeking, and peer-approved fame.
Another forgotten historic graffiti site is underneath Parliament House, at the very foundations of democracy, dating back to the 1980s when the building was first constructed.
A former staffer who worked with the Parliament House art collection (which holds over 6,000 artworks), once considered holding a photographic exhibition of the graffiti because it was so interesting.
This sprayed artwork is literally at bedrock and resembles a time capsule, with graffiti presumably done by construction workers that depict music and culture of the time (a tour guide reported that he’d seen a Pink Floyd album cover).
Artefacts have also been reportedly spotted that may baffle archaeologists in the future, such as old coal from fires to keep construction workers warm on a crisp Canberra winter morning (different OH&S laws back then).
Another historic graffiti site that’s escaped pressure cleaners is inside Old Parliament House, where an inscription was found dating back to 1960.
An apprentice plumber called Brian Charles Bourke, who lived in Forrest, inscribed his name on 14 July 1960 and it wasn’t found until the 2020 restoration works to Old Parliament House room, following a severe hailstorm.
Construction workers who uncovered the inscription stopped work immediately and went on a mission to track down the family of the man who put it there in the first place. Brian’s widow and daughters were able to come and see it in person the following weekend.
The inscription has been preserved for posterity.
Meanwhile, the ACT Government continues to try (sometimes in vain) to erase graffiti from public property, attempting to clear offensive graffiti within one business day and other unauthorised graffiti within 15 business days of reporting.
So far, it’s been 73 years and counting since O. Wilson’s bold graffiti inside the Australian-American memorial.
