As Rusty’s undergoes a facelift concerns about the renovations have been brought to the surface

A “refresh” of Rusty’s Markets including a new paint job has raised concerns the site will lose its authentic feel. Find out what’s planned.

Rusty’s Markets’ eye-popping murals are being painted over as the full market undergoes a paint job but concerns have risen as to how it will make Rusty’s feel.

The market is the hub of activity in Cairns and offers an array of street foods, fresh produce, local products and was used as a filming location for the highly anticipated Hollywood movie Wizards!, which is due to be released in 2023.

One of the murals painted by Neil Parker between 2003-2005 in Rusty Markets that will be covered up by the venues new painting renovation. Picture: supplied

Rusty’s Markets manager Justin Welch said the paint job is being done to refresh the market and new murals are something that could be considered.

“We are painting the whole market … and we are just refreshing the market,” he said.

“It’s under consideration what we will be doing, but right now we are focused on giving the market a refresh.”

Neil Parker is one of the painters that created the murals in the market between 2003 and 2005 and is worried that the market will no longer have the same feel as it once did.

“When Rusty’s was taken over by Gilligan’s, it was painted grey and felt like working in a car park, so we approached them about brightening it up, so over a three-year period, we went in and painted the murals, and it’s been like that ever since, and now it’s going to be a dark, miserable market and lose its whole Rusty’s Market feel,” he said.

Neil Parker one of the painters of the murals in Rusty’s Market that are now being painted over as the venue undergoes a full paint job. Picture: Supplied.

“It’s going to turn the market back into a grey car park.”

Mr Parker said he is upset that there was no consultation around the painting and that people still love the murals.

“There was no consultation at all, but it’s a community market and while it is a business and Gilligan’s owns it, it’s a community market and no one in the community was told,” he said.

“There has been hardly any graffiti on them and people just seem to love them. We did it as a love job; on our off-days we would just go in and just paint.”

Nicola Bryars-Parker and Neil Parker in front of one of the murals they helped paint to brighten up Rusty’s Market. Picture: supplied.

Mr Welsh said renovations are being done to improve the market.

“Any renovations that are done are in the interest of progressing Rusty’s Market,” he said.

Originally published as As Rusty’s undergoes a facelift concerns about the renovations have been brought to the surface