A dimly lit, graffiti-riddled laneway in Lalor has been successfully transformed into a vibrant, community space.
Whittlesea council officially launched the second stage of the Peter Lalor walkway redevelopment and mural last Thursday.
The unveiling of the first stage of Collingwood-based artist Bern Emmerichs’ mural was the highlight of the morning’s official proceedings.
Dubbed Lalor Conversations, the mural features detailed paintings of the suburb’s history – from the first people of the Wurundjeri Willum Clan to the culturally diverse place it is today – across four large panels. It covers an area that was often targeted by vandals.
The two completed panels celebrate the suburb’s namesake Peter Lalor and Westgarthtown, the former dairy farming settlement established in the mid-1850s by German and Wendish immigrants.
The last two panels will be finished before the end of the year.
More seating, a new pergola, street furniture, efficient LED lighting and a wider pedestrian walkway are among new features of the revamped laneway.
The state government stepped in to help fund the second stage of the project after it was found that the community had begun using the laneway again after the council added paving, seating and a pergola in 2013.
Whittlesea mayor Ricky Kirkham said he hoped the mural and upgrades would bring a sense of history and pride to the community. “This area now has designated trading zones for shop operators to display their goods, giving clear separation of pathways for traders and pedestrians. And it provides access for people using mobility aids, prams and wheelchairs.”
