‘Pam the bird’ graffiti explodes across Melbourne’s west
One of Melbourne’s most prolific graffiti tags has exploded across the city’s western suburbs with residents complaining they are seeing the signature bird on nearly every building or fence.
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Graffitied images of “Pam the Bird” have exploded across the city’s western suburbs with residents complaining they are seeing her on nearly every building or fence.
Despite a 20-year-old being charged after allegedly spray painting the signature bird inside the city’s underground rail loop last September, the tag has become an increasing feature on freeways, trains and buildings.
New “Pams” can be seen across Footscray, West Melbourne, Docklands, Newport, Spotswood and Yarraville.
This includes on awnings of the KFC off the Westgate Fwy in Yarraville, on the back of road signs along the Westgate Bridge and freeway, on the back of a 7/11 store in Spotswood and on new property developments in the city’s west.
A Melbourne commuter who catches the Subury line from West Footscray to Flagstaff said the tag was on “every other building or fence”.
The bird even has its own Instagram page, with over 13,000 followers. Videos posted online show people performing death-defying stunts to get “Pam” out into the world.
One Instagram video, posted just six days ago, shows someone wearing a balaclava and holding a goat, while spray painting a large black “Pam” on a building wall.
Another shows two people scaling a pole to vandalise a road sign overlooking the city’s train network, and another of a group of people spraying the bird on a Melbourne tram.
Another mystery bird that goes by the name “Lisa” has also started popping up in the western suburbs, but it’s not yet known if the tag is linked to the same group.
Victoria Police said investigations into the prolific graffiti were ongoing.
“Investigations remain ongoing and there have been no additional charges,” a spokesperson said.
Yarraville’s Jack Gibson-Burrell, 20, was charged with criminal damage, possession of a graffiti implement, entering a private place without authority and three counts of resisting police.
He faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in December last year, where he was adjourned to Broadmeadows Court. He will appear in that court on June 7.
The 20-year-old shot to notoriety last year when he sprayed a Brisbane rail security guard with red paint after he was caught vandalising a train.
He famously squawked like a bird when questioned by reporters outside Queensland’s Southport Magistrates Court.
Those convicted of higher-level graffiti offending can face up to two years in prison and fines of up to $43,000.
It comes as new data from reporting app Snap Send Solve shows more than 30,000 complaints of graffiti and vandalism have been made by residents to their councils over the past 12 months.
The number of reports soared by 27 per cent from 28,777 in the 12 months to February 2023, to 36,419 in the 12 months to February 2024.
The Victorian region with the highest number of complaints in the most recent 12 month period was the south, with a total of 14,643. This was followed by regional Victoria (9,180), suburbs in Melbourne’s east (5,716), north (3,818) and west (3,062).
Snap Send Solve chief executive Danny Gorog said users have reported a wide range of graffiti and vandalism across Victoria.
“Graffiti and tagging are often snapped on the exteriors of buildings, bridges, street signage, park benches, rubbish bins, bus and tram stops, and electricity or panel boxes,” he said.
“We also receive a concerning amount of snaps of vandalism and graffiti on playground facilities.”
Mr Gorog said there’s been a rise in offensive graffiti in light of “current political issues”.
“Last month, snappers noted that 41 per cent of graffiti spotted was offensive,” he said.
“Snappers reported that 97 per cent of graffiti reports are solved, a very encouraging number.”
He said total reports recorded to the app grew by 29 per cent over the past year, accounting for part of the growth.
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