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Melbourne's Iconic Hosier Lane Art Destroyed By Vandals In Masks

Melbourne's Iconic Hosier Lane Art Destroyed By Vandals In Masks

The group of 10 sprayed different coloured paint all over the walls, pavement and cobblestones

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Melbourne's legendary Hosier Lane, famed for the epic graffiti art on its walls, has been vandalised by a group wearing masks, with much of the work ruined in the process.

The artwork on display prior to the act of vandalism included one piece depicting US pop star Lizzo, another paying tribute to koalas and many more.

Videos uploaded to social media show a group of mostly men in masks, using fire extinguishers to shoot paint onto the walls of Hosier Lane.

joe_musco/Instagram

It seems like the vandalism was very much planned, as the group of up to 10 people had two cameramen with them and even operated a drone to capture the incident.

Much of the artwork displayed along the lane, which attracts thousands of tourists every year, is now indistinguishable.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said: "We recognise the importance of street art to our city's culture, particularly as an attraction for local and overseas visitors.

"[But] we see this act as vandalism particularly given the damage they've done to the pavement and cobblestone.

joe_musco/Instagram

"The City of Melbourne has reported the incident to Victoria Police."

Crews have already been sent in to help clear the paint from the cobblestones and the pavement, however the rest of it has been left on the walls.

Interestingly, not everyone believes this is a matter that police should have to deal with.

Chase Joslin who works at the Culture Kings on Hosier Lane, told the Herald Sun: "It's just part of the culture and the way the laneway is. It's going to happen and then it's fine for artists to come down and paint over it again.

joe_musco/Instagram

"It is weird that they've only done a little part of it... but it must be a big deal if they're coming to clean it up."

Hosier Lane is a massive attraction site for tourists who flock to Melbourne every day.

Melbourne's tourism website says that people can 'take in the dizzying array of colours, characters and shapes created by local and international artists alike' as well as 'pick out everything from stencils and paste-ups to murals and installations' in the Lane.

Well, looks like people will have to wait a bit before they can see that again.

Featured Image Credit: joe_musco/Instagram

Topics: News, Australia