3081 neighbourhood panels on Bell St Mall

Since 1957, Bell Street Mall has been a great shopping and meeting point, and has become a vibrant cultural hub with a rich history of supporting opportunity and inclusion.

The 3081 neighbourhood panels were commissioned in 2020 as part of structural improvements to the precinct and to celebrate the social and cultural heritage of the local area.

Gallery

The designs for the panels were created by 3 local artists – Wesley Fuller, Suhaila Ismail and Meghan Pollard – acquired through a competitive process. Their artworks, manufactured by Lump Sculpture Studio, have been laser cut into 3mm aluminium powder-coated panels and illuminated by LED strips.

Full suite of Oxford Arcade panels by day.

Full suite of neighbourhood panels by day.

(JPG, 818KB)
Full suite of Oxford Arcade panels by night.

Full suite of neighbourhood panels by night.

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Banyule | Wesley Fuller| 2020 | A representation of the 21 suburbs of Banyule with the meeting places being the suburbs and the connecting lines being the journeys between, surrounded by hills. Lined by hills, Darebin Creek connects with the Yarra River on one side and the Plenty River connects on the other.

Banyule | Wesley Fuller| 2020 | A representation of the 21 suburbs of Banyule with the meeting places being the suburbs and the connecting lines being the journeys between, surrounded by hills. Lined by hills, Darebin Creek connects with the Yarra River on one side and the Plenty River connects on the other.

(JPG, 363KB)
Don’t Judge a Brick by its Cover! | Meghan Pollard | 2020 | In 1956, the Olympic Games came to Melbourne, and Heidelberg West was the location for the Olympic Village. This art represents the suburb's former glory days, which later became public housing for the community. The juxtaposition between the 2 worlds is a reminder that there is more to these building than there seems.

Don’t Judge a Brick by its Cover! | Meghan Pollard | 2020 | In 1956, the Olympic Games came to Melbourne, and Heidelberg West was the location for the Olympic Village. This art represents the suburb's former glory days, which later became public housing for the community. The juxtaposition between the 2 worlds is a reminder that there is more to these building than there seems.

(JPG, 298KB)
Naqshadaha Dhaqankena (Our cultural patterns) | Suhaila Ismail | 2020 | This piece is influenced by fabric designs of various Somali clothing: Guntiino/Garays (horizontal lines), Macwiis (triangles), Baati/Shiid (mixed patterns). The star in the centre represents the 5 areas where the Somali ethnic groups have resided.

Naqshadaha Dhaqankena (Our cultural patterns) | Suhaila Ismail | 2020 | This piece is influenced by fabric designs of various Somali clothing: Guntiino/Garays (horizontal lines), Macwiis (triangles), Baati/Shiid (mixed patterns). The star in the centre represents the 5 areas where the Somali ethnic groups have resided.

(JPG, 293KB)
Power to the People | Meghan Pollard | 2020 | ‘I Love 3081’ … a nod to the pop culture reference in other major cities of the world, was re-created by locals demonstrating their loyalty and respect. This piece is a representation of the abundance of public health and community services available to all people in Heidelberg West. The fist featured in the centre is a stand for multicultural rights, following the Black Lives Matter movement of 2020. It is also a representation of our working-class community.

Power to the People | Meghan Pollard | 2020 | ‘I Love 3081’ … a nod to the pop culture reference in other major cities of the world, was re-created by locals demonstrating their loyalty and respect. This piece is a representation of the abundance of public health and community services available to all people in Heidelberg West. The fist featured in the centre is a stand for multicultural rights, following the Black Lives Matter movement of 2020. It is also a representation of our working-class community.

(JPG, 316KB)
Soldiers, Olympians and Ice-Creams | Meghan Pollard | 2020 | The Mall was built as support for the Olympic Village 1956, the first drive through shopping precinct in Victoria. Bell Street Mall backs onto Tobruk Avenue, named after the WW2 Siege in Tobruk, Libya. The Soldiers were nicknamed ‘The Rats of Tobruk’ from their successes in operating in underground tunnels and trenches. They often used old shipping parts as peep holes from the trenches to spy on their enemies. I have represented this in the foreground as a surreal figure to pay homage to our war heroes. The Mall, now a place of remembrance, offers multicultural food and shopping for the locals.

Soldiers, Olympians and Ice-Creams | Meghan Pollard | 2020 | The Mall was built as support for the Olympic Village 1956, the first drive through shopping precinct in Victoria. Bell Street Mall backs onto Tobruk Avenue, named after the WW2 Siege in Tobruk, Libya. The Soldiers were nicknamed ‘The Rats of Tobruk’ from their successes in operating in underground tunnels and trenches. They often used old shipping parts as peep holes from the trenches to spy on their enemies. I have represented this in the foreground as a surreal figure to pay homage to our war heroes. The Mall, now a place of remembrance, offers multicultural food and shopping for the locals.

(JPG, 286KB)
Take Me to the River | Meghan Pollard | 2020 | Flowing rivers and creeks run though Heidelberg West and surrounding areas, providing huge potential for sustainability solutions. This design is a surreal representation of using nature to power our lives and a reminder of the abundance of birds and wildlife that surround us in our suburban lives that need protection and nurturing.

Take Me to the River | Meghan Pollard | 2020 | Flowing rivers and creeks run though Heidelberg West and surrounding areas, providing huge potential for sustainability solutions. This design is a surreal representation of using nature to power our lives and a reminder of the abundance of birds and wildlife that surround us in our suburban lives that need protection and nurturing.

(JPG, 316KB)
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