Summary

Digital photograph of a poster pasted up on Lygon Street, Carlton by local graphic designer Julie Cattlin during the first Covid-19 lockdown in Melbourne in March 2020. The poster reads 'With The Kindness of Landlords Lygon Street Will Be Back Stronger & Better Than Ever'. It was the second of a series of two posters. This poster was adhered to the wall of Heart Attack and Vine cafe on the corner of Lygon and Little Elgin Street.

Julie Cattlin, a local living on Elgin Street in Carlton, took it upon herself to try to bring local landlords and businesses together by encouraging generosity over profit during the Covid-19 pandemic. She printed out 60 copies of these posters and stuck them only on already-vacant properties or public walls but the message was directed at the owners of tenanted properties at risk of closure.

While not made as part of the official Rent Strike campaign, these posters speaks to a wider community conversation across Melbourne about rent, land ownership and privilege. Julie knew a lot of the tenants with businesses still open on Lygon Street who appreciated and partook in discussions. Julie felt the Lygon Street/Carlton district suffered during the lockdowns because it was a destination - a destination of restaurants and cafes that were no longer a drawcard for tourists or others across Melbourne who might come to the city to work, shop and study. "We suffered like the city suffered." she said.

"I have no idea the effect of these posters. Unfortunately by the end of the year, many restaurants and cafes had closed, along with other retail shops. Lease signs were everywhere.

It is encouraging that now Lygon Street appears to 'be back' and busy, and soon will be the exciting, multi-cultural shopping strip with all its shops, restaurants and cafes functioning well - for everyone!"
Julie Cattlin, Tuesday 18 May, 2021

Julie worked professionally for many years as a graphic designer. In her career she designed a number of campaigns, including posters, for unions in Victoria. She is semi-retired now, still doing design work and e-newsletters for Grandmothers for Refugees and Reconciliation Victoria.

Description of Content

Poster, landscape format, pasted to exterior concrete wall with torn poster of illustrated pizza above it. The streetscape is visible to left of wall, with a plane tree in the foreground and parked cars in front of shopfronts in background. No people on the street. Poster reads: 'WITH THE KINDNESS / OF LANDLORDS / LYGON STREET / WILL BE BACK / STRONGER & BETTER / THAN EVER!'

Physical Description

Digital image

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