Too much bombing is never enough

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Newcastle Beach is a beautiful half-kilometre stretch of pale gold sand facing south east and divided by rocks, making two quite separate beaches:

“South Newcastle Beach” (there is no “South Newcastle”, btw) backed by unnaturally-manicured cliffs and an esplanade climbing into King Edward Park.

Newcastle Beach, the northern end, backed by even uglier cliffs known as "apartment dwellings" that could go a damn good makeover with an aerosol.

Click to enlarge – Newcastle beach

1 – North tunnel with historic murals
2 – Parapet, road wall above beach with extensive views
3 – South pedestrian tunnel opening to shelters and changerooms
4 – Main wall facing beach, bike and skateboard ramps, shelters, nearly 200 metres of art space up to 3 metres high.

Each beach has a pedestrian tunnel – and you would be correct assuming they offer great scope for bombing.

However, the northern tunnel is dedicated to commissioned murals of historical seaside impressions of the city’s recent past.

The southern tunnel, although open slather, is subject to the rules of the "Aerosol Art Agreement" between graffitiists and council.

The South is a major venue for wall art, a subtle "respectifying" of graffiti. Being council approved, strict laws apply to where one may scribble – which amazingly almost work.

The penalty for failure to comply is loss of the venue.

Why that works with mindless vandals is a great mystery of the universe. Perhaps they find the fresh sea air an anathema. Or maybe the legitimate and beautiful artworks have them so busy me-too vandalising they never get to hit the clean spaces.

So, the story begins in 2004 when I (re)discovered it, having been absent from the beach for several decades of financial slavery. Further, with Shortland Esplanade closed to vehicles, I never ventured there since, as youth, spending endless weekends and evenings cruising that most magnificent of scenic hill climbs offered anywhere on Australia’s coastline. After generations of loving fond use, one day a rock fell and litigious threat paralysed the council forever.

Unaware Newcastle South (beach) was an approved council venue till some council workers pointed me and my camera eastward one Sunday morning during a Hunter Street shoot.

In 2004 it boasted a free-for-all get it out a yer system – and even the sand and waves were bombed and tagged.

Some of the most beautiful works date from those early times. The artists, whoever they were, seem to have left the scene.