These newcomers are yet another reason to come and enjoy this St Kilda destination, whether to shop, enjoy a drink or bite to eat or get creative at a workshop.
As well as providing a hub for these creatives, 77 Fitzroy Street is also home to a magnificent mural of St Kilda cultural icon Mirka Mora as a young and older woman.
Painted by muralist Tom Cerdan, the mural was commissioned by the Fitzroy Street Business Association and funded by a Love My Place grant from our Council.
Mirka’s creative influence is further celebrated in Aperture f/77, a moving image projection program running over the next six months in a dedicated purpose-built window space at 77 Fitzroy Street as a pilot collaboration between Renew Australia and our Council.
Mirka and Georges Mora’s Home Movies, in collaboration with the Jewish Museum of Australia, is the first iteration of the Aperture program, able to be viewed day and night. Information about the individual programs is accessed via a QR code on the Aperture f/77 decal frame surrounding the viewing window.
All this activity comes as Fitzroy Street continues its rejuvenation. A gallery and several new restaurants are opening as well as the post-lockdown reopening of the Victorian Pride Centre, which has already become an important landmark for locals and visitors.
Under the RFS program, landlords donate vacant shops to creatives with rolling 30-day rent-free licences negotiated by Renew Australia. This gives the new businesses time to test ideas within a commercial market without committing to a lengthy commercial lease agreement.
Our Council contributed $75,000 to the project, with matching funding provided by the Fitzroy Street Business Association.
The new creatives join eight existing Renew Fitzroy Street businesses located in another five shops.
Meet the 77 Fitzroy Street newcomers
Farm Goat: Handcrafted cold pressed goat milk soap (relocated from another Renew shop) https://farmgoat.com.au/
Greg Egan – I’m looking forward to being part of a shared space with a bigger making area and smaller retail showcase to focus more on my own product range. Now I am starting to see the business grow. It’s so great to be part of Renew Fitzroy Street to bring my creative business to life.
Macuject: a new technology start-up in the medical device artificial intelligence field. Their mission is to end preventable blindness from diseases such as macular degeneration.
Stephanie Mauger – As Macuject enters a new phase of growth we’re incredibly excited to be able to come together to keep pushing the boundaries of innovation. We couldn’t be more excited than to be doing this in our new Renew space. https://macuject.com
Kirstin Burgham, a well-known local ceramist who will run workshop classes suitable for all abilities and have a small range of work available for purchase. https://www.kristinburgham.com/about
Kristin Burgham – I can’t wait to get Room for Clay workshops up and running. Renew Fitzroy Street is giving me the opportunity to start workshops for the community and to share in the joy of making with clay. All will be welcome at 77 Fitzroy Street.
Artist Sarah Tracton will activate the hallway as a gallery with her stunning ceramic lighting. https://www.sarahtracton.com/
Sarah Tracton – Showcasing my handcrafted lighting in 77 Fitzroy Street is a brilliant opportunity to share my art and add to the ambience of this vibrant neighbourhood.
A parking area at the back of 77 Fitzroy Street is planned for pop ups and festival activations.
