Newest service station also has huge colourful mural on Gold Coast, Bundall 88

THE GOLD Coast’s newest service station is also home to 45 metres of amazing street art. Here’s what the massive mural looks like.

Artist Alex Lehours hard at work. Picture: Jerad Williams

EVERY TIME you go past this petrol station, Alex Lehours hopes you spot something new.

The Sydney-based graphic-designer-turned-artist teamed up with local street artist John Kaye to decorate 45 metres of boring walls at the Coast’s funkiest service station, Bundall 88.

Artist Alex Lehours at work for a story on griffin-inspired murals at the new Freedom Fuels service station on Bundall Rd. Picture: Jerad Williams

Mr Lehours said he had used about 12 litres of acrylic house paint and aerosols to cover the walls, which depict Japanese pop culture, old statues and hidden symbols of good luck such as clovers and the number 88.

The experienced artist said he had been working in the industry for six years and was commissioned through 40/40 Creative to head up from Sydney for this commission.

Artist Alex Lehours at work for a story on graffiti-inspired murals at the new Freedom Fuels service station on Bundall Rd. Picture: Jerad Williams

“The client was pretty open,” Mr Lehours said of the Bundall Rd project.

“The only one small
requirement was the use of the lucky number 88, so I tried to do it in a bit more of a subtle way.”

Some of John Kaye’s work. Photo by Richard Gosling

He said people didn’t expect to see the unique wall at a service station and that it opened up street art to an entirely different audience.

“It’s a cool spot,” he said.

“It took about a week (to paint).”

It took Alex about a week to complete his huge mural. Picture: Jerad Williams

Developer Romolo Bos bought the Bundall Road site in 2014, which was once home to Shogun Japanese Restaurant.

“We were keen to breathe fresh life into the traditional service station concept by way of architecture and link the art space with the developing Bundall cultural precinct,” Mr Bos said.

John Kaye working on his colourful mural. Photo by Richard Gosling

Architect Bayden Goddard said graffiti-inspired art was becoming more and more popular.

The Freedom Fuel petrol station opened this month complete with a 24-hour drive-through Crema Expresso cafe.

A medical centre, including a Chempro Chemist, will open in May later this year.