Australian builders don't give a rat's arse about Banksy

One of the few remaining works by internationally renowned street artist Banksy has been destroyed in Prahran. Workers unknowingly drilled a hole to make way for pipes for a new cafe near the corner of Izett and Greville streets yesterday afternoon. It is unknown how long the artwork of a parachuting rat had been in its location, but it was understood to be one of the few remaining works by the reclusive, British artist in Melbourne.



Another was vandalised in Gore St Fitzroy in August last year and another was accidentally painted over by council workers in Hosier Lane in the city in April 2010. Owner of the adjacent business Signed and Numbered, Jacqui Vidal said it was a “devastating’’ loss to the Greville St precinct. “If it had have been 20cm higher or 20cm to the side this would never have happened,’’ Ms Vidal said.

“This should have been avoided. It’s not a big piece, but it is one of the few remaining Banksy’s in Melbourne. The workers who were involved in it had no idea what that had done and they were very nice about it and they saved what they could.’’ Director and Editor of invurt.com, an international ‘webzine’ devoted to graphic design and street art, Fletcher Andersen said more needed to be done to protect street art from development.



“There needs to be a process to take things like this into consideration,’’ Mr Andersen said. “It’s always an uphill battle to get people to appreciate street art. There was obviously a permit for demolition of part of the wall, but what was lacking was about the street art on the wall and that’s something that Stonnington Council, and in fact all councils need to look at when it comes to approving developments.’’