Our objective is to have the mural relocated to a more appropriate and fitting location, considering that it’s a $250,000 artwork owned by the people of Victoria.
It’s crucial to emphasize that relocating the mural involves more than just enhancing its viewing experience.
Considerations encompass supporting the oil-on-canvas painting, managing atmospheric conditions, ensuring safety, and enhancing security measures.
Cavalcade of Transport Mural Rescue Group
The Cavalcade of Transport Mural Rescue Group has been actively working towards having the mural relocated to a site more suitable for it’s viewing.
Sources
Baz Daly – 22 December 2015
The Calvalcade of Transport mural depicts the history of transport in the state of Victoria. It used to be hung in pride of place at the old Spencer Street railway station.
If you wish to see this amazing piece of work of art these days then you can only access about half of it and it’s hung on a wall obscured by metal halide lights and assorted ducts at the northern most part of a shopping arcade called the Spencer Outlet Centre in a clothes shop called: “Trade Secret”. . Hmmm, very fitting
It’s very clear that Southern Cross station management don’t want people to view this piece of our heritage due to the way they have almost obscured it from public display.
The only consolation is that the mural is in fact intact and those in power haven’t run any air conditioning ducts or plumbing through it or otherwise defaced it.
The aim of this group is to have the mural relocated to Scienceworks at their transport exhibition or another suitable place in Melbourne so at least folk who appreciate our transport heritage can view it in all its splendour.
To accomplish this feat we are going to need numbers so if you could please join the group and get your friends to join too.
By doing so you will be helping the mural make the transition from being obscured from view at the back of a clothing shop to a public display more befitting this piece of our transport history.
John sums up member sentiment: After reading further about the history of this mural, I have become further dismayed that PTV and the State Government ( who commissioned the artwork) have allowed the current situation to come about. One can only think that the powers that be in both, are devoid of any sense of artistic heritage. To think that the head of PTV thinks the current location is safe and secure is mind boggling.
Peter Sutton – 23 July 2022
Member of Cavalcade of Transport Mural Rescue Group since July 23, 2022
Sources
Petition: Save the Cavalcade of Transport mural at Spencer Street Station (Petition Closed)
Started: 13 January 2018
For far too long the Cavalcade of Transport mural, which is now buried behind air conditioning ducts and light fittings at Spencer Street factory outlet, has been hidden from the view of everyone. The mural is of significance in as much as it depicts the history of transport in Victoria from 1835 to 1935, it was created by the only person to ever by appointed to the position of “State Artist”, Mr Harold Freedman and it belongs to the people of Victoria and should be displayed with pride, not left to languish above a group of shops where it is invisible. The mural needs a new home sooner rather than later so that future generations can gaze upon this masterpiece much as I did in 1972 while I was a junior station assistant with the then mighty Victorian Railways, please help us to save the Cavalcade of Transport in the memory of Mr Harold Freedman.
- CommentsBill Capper – We must never let this quest go until an appropriate home is found for this Melbourne icon.