Pro Grind Australia turn Bourke Street Mall into a ‘polished
concrete masterpiece’.

Project: Bourke St Mall Redevelopment
Artist: David Humphries commissioned by Melbourne City Council
Client: Canteri Bros Constructions Pty Ltd
Outcome: Transformation of Bourke Street Mall tram tracks
Product: Polished Concrete

In it's exciting period of urban renewal and preparation to host the prestigious 2006 Commonwealth Games - Melbourne has seen the first stage of the Bourke Street Mall redevelopment begin. After more than 20 years as Melbourne's retail promenade, public space and transport hub, the Bourke Street Mall is getting a $15 million makeover. By 2006, the mall will have a contemporary new look; a living art gallery with programs of contemporary artworks and exciting retail events.

In all this excitement Pro Grind Australia has teamed up with Artist David Humphries, to transform 2100m² of concrete, between the tram lines, into a polished concrete masterpiece. At over 2 kilometres in the centre of the city, it's the largest public artwork in Australia.

David is the 'hands-on' director of Public Art Squad - in its 25th year of operation - a company that has completed some of Australia's most memorable large-scale community and commercial public art commissions. Colossal murals, sculptures and marble terrazzos' make up his design portfolio.

High profile projects include:

• The Olympic Journey Celebration Pathway, at Darling Harbour.
• The National Maritime Museum, in Sydney.
• The Fashion and Textile Museum, in London.
• Star City Casino, in Sydney.

This time David has been commissioned by Melbourne City council to design an exciting mural, using concrete as his canvas, to transform this space into an artscape of colour and fantasy. David has fashioned a collage of glass, shells, mirrors, and coloured pebbles, turning an otherwise mundane tram track into a path with more enchantment than the yellow brick road.

Working in conjunction with Canteri Bros Constructions, Pro Grind Australia will partner with David through three stages of the redevelopment. Pro Grind's work will take place over 4 weeks, grinding and polishing the concrete to a 120 grit, then sealing the creativity under the surface.

Pro Grind Australia is thrilled to be part of this amazing make over - to help rejuvenate the mall and turn it into an artistic public space which will give every Melbournian the opportunity - as David so aptly states: "To celebrate joy and peace through universal creativity".