Dustin Martin, Skipping Girl, Franco Cozzo, Nylex Clock amount iconic signs and murals
Dustin Martin is one of the AFL’s most loved players, so much so there is a mural in his honour – and it’s not the only icon Melburnians love.
Outer East
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From the Skipping Girl Vinegar sign to the Nylex clock, these are the landmarks that make our suburbs special.
You know you’re in Richmond when you spot the historic Dimmeys clock tower, and you can’t get more St Kilda than passing the Paul Kelly mural on The Espy.
Check out some of Melbourne’s coolest murals and signs.
SKIPPING GIRL VINEGAR
It’s truly a delight to drive down Victoria St at night and spot the Skipping Girl Vinegar sign shining brightly. Known as ‘Little Audrey’ the sign has a rich history, and has lit up Abbotsford’s skyline since 1936.
Once the advertisement for the Skipping Girl brand of vinegar, the sign is now a heritage-listed treasure.
WELCOME TO FERNTREE GULLY SIGN
The “Welcome to Ferntree Gully and Blue Dandenongs” sign was originally built for the 1956 Olympic Games by hills artist John Frawley, who died in 2012.
It stood on Burwood Highway for more than 50 years, replaced with a replica in 2014, after it became badly decayed.
The old sign takes pride of place at the Frawley Signs’ base in Upwey.
NYLEX CLOCK
An iconic part of Melbourne’s skyline for 60 years, the famous Nylex Plastics clock hasn’t worked since 2007. Paul Kelly famously references the sign in his song Leaps and Bounds, singing: “The clock on the silos says 11 degrees”. Developers Caydon Property have plans to restore the sign back to its former glory.
THE DIMMEYS CLOCKTOWER
The huge discount store on Swan St Richmond may have closed to make way for a new Coles store and apartment complex, but the iconic clock tower, built in 1910, remains.
FLINDERS STREET PLATFORM SIGNS
There is nothing more Melbourne than meeting under the clocks at Flinders St station.
Historic platform signs indicate when the next train is arriving for each different line.
WELCOME TO SUNNY FITZROY SIGN
You know you’ve hit Fitzroy and one of Melbourne’s coolest suburbs for street art when you spot the eye-catching mural by Everfresh Studio. It’s outside live music venue The Night Cat on the corner of Johnston and Young streets.
HARD YAKKA MURAL
Drivers have been passing the popular mural on the corner of Canterbury Rd and Station St in Box Hill South for years. Near the Workwear corner store, the mural features a series of workmen advertising Hard Yakka, Driza-Bone and Blundstone – and even has a dog biting one of the men on the bottom.
FRANCO COZZO MURAL
Furniture king Franco Cozzo was immortalised on the side wall of his store in Hopkins St Footscray back in 2015.
Franco made a name for himself after appearing on TV ads where he would spruik the furniture at his “Brunsawicka” and “Footisgray” stores, in a mix of English, Italian and Greek.
DUSTY MURAL
The Richmond legend was immortalised in a mural after his 2017 Brownlow win, on the wall of the Rowena Corner Store. Reflecting its status as a sporting mecca, Richmond is also home to murals of Melbourne Storm legends Billy Slater and Cameron Smith as well as another Tigers inspired mural on Swan St.
There is also a Black Power salute mural in Kipling St, paying tribute to one of the most famous photos in the history of world sport, and a memorable mural featuring Kanye West, Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian, that greets train commuters travelling from the east arriving at Richmond station.
DONCASTER SHOPPINGTOWN TOWER
The Westfield Doncaster tower, featuring the Shoppingtown then Westfield sign, used to be one of the tallest buildings in the eastern suburbs, with many residents spotting it as they drove around town.
AXLE THE STAFFY MURAL
Drivers headed towards Frankston along the Nepean Highway are greeted by celebrity staffy and all round good boy Axle in a mural on the side of the Edithvale IGA.
The mural was completed by renowned artists Melissa Turner and Brigitte Dawson.
Since shooting to internet fame in 2017, Axle has appeared in South American Pizza Hut ads, locked down a talent agent and made his breakfast TV debut.
PAUL KELLY MURAL
The much-loved Melbourne singer has been immortalised in a mural by street artist Scott Marsh on the side of The Espy in St Kilda.
GLENNY KEBABS MURAL
The mural featuring Elon Musk, Baby Yoda, 50 Cent mashed with Oprah, and Danny DeVito has become a favourite for people living in the eastern suburbs.
Created by street artist Lushsux, the mural is at Glenny Kebabs Forest Hill, on the corner of Springvale and Canterbury roads.
BABA DESI MURAL
A Belgrave mural, painted by Inkbomb Studios artist Bryan Itch and commissioned by the Belgrave Traders Association, pays tribute to Belgrave wizard Baba-Desi — Des Bergen.
“I wanted to stick to flora and fauna for the theme but include a tribute to Baba Desi in there somehow,” Itch previously told Leader.
“The lorikeet made perfect sense as Desi is not one to shy away from colourful clothing.”
MELBOURNE MURAL, DUCKBOARD PLACE
One of Melbourne’s best laneways to check out some amazing street art, Duckboard Place is home to the amazing Melbourne mural. It’s also close to the statue of legendary AC/DC singer Bon Scott and bandmate Malcolm Young’s mural in AC/DC lane.
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