The Ferntree Gully Creative Placemaking Plan is being delivered by Council in partnership with the Victorian Government. Council is contributing $130,000 towards the project and has received $110,000 from the Victorian Government’s Living Local Fund Suburban Grants.

Council has launched the project in response to the community engagement conducted in April 2022 and completed 3 ‘quick wins’ with additional funds through Council’s capital works.

Thank you to our community for your contribution to the development of the Ferntree Gully Placemaking Plan.

You told us you want to see:

  • the return of the once vibrant and historic township
  • the Village become a strong tourism destination as a gateway to the Dandenong Ranges.

This project was initiated by Councillors and the community.

The Creative Placemaking Plan will continue to be rolled out between February 2023 and June 2024, responding to the feedback received from the community. Additional projects within the plan that are beyond the resources available will require longer term financial planning.

Please see below for an update on the projects already achieved and find details about upcoming projects to be completed by June 2024.

What is creative placemaking?

Creative Placemaking is about using arts and cultural development to help transform public spaces to strengthen the connections between people and their feelings of safety, pride and connection to these places. Creative Placemaking projects in Ferntree Gully will include community led arts activities, cultural development projects involving locals in collaborative arts projects, and artist led projects that respond to community themes relating to their local neighbourhood.

Objectives

By developing the Ferntree Gully Placemaking Plan, we hope to:

  • improve community safety with pedestrian walkways
  • increase positive connection to place for Ferntree Gully residents, visitors and traders
  • use the arts to beautify and create interest in Ferntree Gully
  • encourage foot traffic and support activation
  • attract and retain business in Ferntree Gully.

Stage One: 'Quick win' projects completed:

1. Horologist Lane light box gallery, installed in August 2022, allowing community exhibitions to be rotated throughout the year.

2. The inaugural exhibition in Horologist Lane using artwork created by local children involved in school holiday workshops at Ferntree Gully Arts Centre. Facilitated by environmental artist Joanne Mott, they explored local plant types and wildlife.

3. 88 Station Street Mural created by artist, Christian Vine who grew up in Upper Ferntree Gully. Christian’s work is inspired by local flora and fauna and people’s relationship with nature.

Stage Two: Council is proud to report on the following completed projects:

4. Renewal of Tree Fern Landscape mural at parklet on corner of Wyuna and Station Streets, Ferntree Gully. Originally painted by artist Jurek Pajak as part of a Work for the Dole art program in 2004, this work is much-loved by the community.

5. Lyrebird mural design and created by Melbourne artist Juzpop at 98 Station Street between The Gully Fish Shop and Fitness Foundry gym.

6. New mural at rear wall of 170 Underwood Street, facing onto the Apollo Service Station at corner of Forest and Underwood Roads. Design and created by Melbourne artist Jack Rowlands, this striking green and purple chromatic landscape has brightened up this pocket of Ferntree Gully Village.

7. Upgrade to the parklet at corner of Wyuna and Station Streets, including newly landscaped areas, a picnic table and bench seats, musical instruments and mud stones as informal seating. This project was completed in June 2023.

8. New mural on east-facing wall of 46 Station Street (private residential building), titled New-Natural by Melbourne artists David Lee Pereira and Amina Briggs, managed by Just Another Agency. Completed in January 2024.

In Progress:

9. First Nation artwork with a lighting element to be installed on south and east facing walls of the Yooralla Building at 77-79 Station Street, Ferntree Gully. Little Rocket Creative Agency is working with Wurundjeri Artist, Grace Brown on artwork design.

Project updates

Timeline

  • Timeline item 1 - complete

    Community engagement - March 2022

  • Timeline item 2 - complete

    Draft FTG Reclaiming Public Space Strategy developed - July 2022

  • Timeline item 3 - complete

    Prepare and deliver stage 1 projects - June 2022 - June 2023

  • Timeline item 4 - active

    Prepare and deliver stage 2 works - February 2023 to June 2024

    Projects requiring further planning and resource scoping

Contact Us

If you have questions or would like to get involved in the proposed projects, please contact:

Name Public Art Project Officer
Phone 9298 8022
Email publicart@knox.vic.gov.au