A talk by Megan Hicks
When: Saturday 31 October 2026. 10.15 am for 10.30 start.
Where: Pavilion Room, Marrickville Public Library, Cnr Marrickville and Livingstone Roads.
Sydney identity Arthur Stace (‘Mr Eternity’) began chalking his one-word sermon in the early 1930s. But he was not the only person leaving messages on footpaths at that time.
Writing on pavements is a form of graffiti that is seldom discussed but, despite its ephemerality, there is ample evidence for its existence during the last century or more. Megan investigated one short era, the tumultuous Great Depression years of the early 1930s, and found many examples of chalk and whitewash pavement writing in towns and cities across Australia and even in our local area. It was prolific, conspicuous, newsworthy and integral to the story of public life and politics in Australia during those turbulent times.
State Library of New South Wales
[bcp_01193 / At Work and Play 01193]
(Mitchell Library)
A long-time member of MHS, Megan Hicks was a curator at the Powerhouse Museum before turning to freelance work as a museum and heritage advisor. Megan also completed a PhD on ‘Pavement graffiti’ at Macquarie University and went on to become an Adjunct Researcher in urban studies with Western Sydney University.
Megan’s particular interest is informal writing in public spaces, including graffiti and handwritten signs, especially if they are drawn on footpaths or roadways.
