15 works to capture on the Townsville street art photography trail
List
By Mark Allen
Townsville is typically known for its beaches, sunshine and laid-back lifestyle, but if you’re seeking something a little more, erm, cultural from your visit, you’ll find plenty of surprises if you know where to look. Alleyways, lanes and warehouses provide a street art gallery and stage for artistic expression, creating an unexpected, vibrant urban environment.
The oldest and most well-known piece of guerrilla street art is the ‘Saint’ on Castle Hill – painted 50 years ago in the early hours of Saint Patrick’s Day by local students. The new City Lane precinct displays large murals from well-known visiting street artists like Fintan Magee and Lee Harnden that you can enjoy from nearby bars and restaurants.
Head into the city centre for the biggest concentration of pieces and with the help of this trusty map, you’ll also be able to see some of the larger murals in the outer suburbs.
Grab your camera and don’t miss the massive murals covering the car park behind a suburban skate shop. If you’re prepared to make the effort, you’ll be rewarded with some amazing local talent and might even cross paths with other artistic wanderers.
Denham Lane. This large mural makes up a part of the massive commissioned pieces that cover this laneway.
Old meets new with a graffiti representation of the city’s founder Robert Towns in Denham Lane.
A laneway cafe is hidden behind one of the many pieces along Denham Lane.
Large scale mural portrait of Townsville’s most well-known street artist ‘Smizla’ by Brisbane based artist Lee Harnden.
This huge mural by Brisbane artist Fintan Magee can be found in City Lane.
Assorted pieces in an inner-city car park.
A Robin Williams mural that was completed in honour of the late actor.
This Alice in Wonderland-themed mural takes up the entire car park behind a suburban skate shop and was completed by local and national artists.
‘High Hopes’ is a surprising find in a narrow blink-and-you’ll-miss-it city lane.
Little pieces like this can be found around the city if you keep an eye out.
Phoenix Rising is the current piece at the back of the Umbrella Studio Gallery. This space features new pieces on a revolving roster.
Another random piece you’ll find along the way.
Colourful paste-up piece found in Ogden Street.
Ogden Street is filled with lots of colourful pieces with different mediums like paint, paste up, stickers and pen.
Assorted pieces found in Ogden Street.
