The Visual Story of Pulteney Street & Hurtle Square

The journey of the Pulteney Street themes and artwork is part of a bigger, colourful story unfolding across the City South‑East — a place‑identity adventure shaped by colour, creativity and community.

It began with Step Back in Time — a project that used historical images to reconnect people with the heritage. These early wraps turned power boxes into mini‑galleries, proving that public art could live anywhere in the public realm and still feel meaningful, accessible and loved.

Building on that momentum, renowned artist Ella Simpson created a new suite of artworks bursting with place‑based colours and bold motifs. Every colour in the palette comes directly from the natural and built environment, shaped through the Community Canvas sessions and conversations with neighbours about what made the area feel like "ours".

The designs celebrate the little things people love about the area:
Heritage homes, Morton Bay figs, Sulphur‑crested Cockatoos
Jacaranda flowers, Hurtle Square plaque, small dogs
The Greek on Halifax chimney, eucalyptus flowers and plane‑tree leaves
The Forest of Dreams sculpture, magpies, Ginkgo leaves from Halifax Street

These elements create a cohesive visual story — one that honours the past, celebrates the present and sets a bold, confident direction for the precinct's future identity.