“The Watchful Ones“  Hero Building commission

City of Melbourne in partnership with the Hero Apartment Building Owners Corporation

The current commission is the fifth in the partnership program and was installed in late 2024. It can be viewed from the intersection opposite the Hero Apartment Building on the south corners of Russell and Little Collins streets.

Artists statement:

“The Watchful Ones celebrates the harmonious bond between nature, family and community, reflecting the timeless guardianship shared across species and generations that exists within our urban city spaces. A pair of magpie parents on the lookout to protect their chicks stand in front of a vibrant repeating pattern of local native flowers - pink pigface, purple kangaroo apple, and yellow murnong - signalling the season when magpies are most protective. Set against a sky-blue background, this artwork is overlaid with yellow designs inspired by the artist's traditional South Eastern Kulin heritage, peeking through as a reminder of the land's ever-present visual language.”

Photo Credit: Peter Berzanskis