Public Art Installation - Window Artwork - 2019

In August 2018, the Town of East Fremantle Public Art Panel supported the application of external vinyl artwork to the windows of an empty shop in a highly visible part of the Town – namely, the corner of Canning Highway and Petra Street.

The aim is to create an ephemeral installation that will transform an unattractive, empty building into a bright, highly visible entry to the Town. 

The Panel selected two images submitted by local artist Patricia Burvill and the installation was finalised on Thursday 6 June 2019.

Patricia says "These designs are inspired by the rich history of the East Fremantle precinct and its connection to nature, with everything evolving around the Swan River.  We are capturing an area that was once vineyards and orchards before becoming more residential. Iconic buildings, such as the Royal George, still stand, giving the area character.

As a child I spent many nights under the old Fremantle Bridge, prawning, fishing and crabbing, watching the prawns fly past and swirl around in the flowing current, their eyes glowing in the night, you had to be quick to catch them.  The view from East Fremantle always has a container ship on the horizon bringing goods to the port with the lighthouse guiding it in safely.I made reference to the festivals of East Fremantle from past to present that bring the town alive. 

The Swan River was a major food source for the Noongar community who used the river for food at a time when the river was rich and abundant with fish, crabs and prawns. The plants around the river were used to make gathering bowls. When the rains came the rivers would flow fast, bringing all the river life downstream with its strong current. 

The pelican was symbolic to the Noongar people that frequented the swan river. The pelican is an iconic part of the East Fremantle part of the river.

The flora and fauna was once rich with many native plants and flowers. Many birds such as the Carnaby Cockatoo used the trees for nesting and food, but as the land was cleared for farming and residential housing much of the native fauna and flora has sadly disappeared.  The Night Heron is a loner who comes out at dusk to feed along the East Fremantle shoreline with its distinctive statue like stance.   The Osprey can be seen hunting for food along the East Fremantle side of the river, often getting a glimpse of one grabbing a fish from the river with its strong sharp claws.