Summary

Digital photograph of two posters pasted up on windows and hoarding. These were pasted along Lygon Street, Carlton, by local graphic designer Julie Cattlin during the first Covid-19 lockdown in Melbourne in March 2020. The posters read 'Landlords Help Carlton Traders One Month's Free Rent' and 'With The Kindness of Landlords Lygon Street Will Be Back Stronger & Better Than Ever'.

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

Description of Content

Two posters, landscape format, pasted side by side. One on timber hoarding and the other on a window, with black plastic hung behind it. Posters read: 'LANDLORDS / HELP CARLTON / TRADERS / ONE MONTH'S / FREE RENT' and 'WITH THE KINDNESS / OF LANDLORDS / LYGON STREET / WILL BE BACK / STRONGER & BETTER / THAN EVER!' in a combination of red, yellow and black.

Physical Description

Digital image

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