Art in Payneham

As I walk from the city through Kent Town and down Payneham road towards my rented working space, I pass by many houses and commercial buildings from long ago. Some are much loved and cared for. Others are neglected. But they are all precious. They are probably not so appreciated by the many commuters in cars, trucks and vans that whoosh by, in the race for time + money. One old building intrigues me. The faded grey sign indicates it had something to do with plumbing – probably before the petrochemical industry provided plastic wares. But it is derelict. The open doorway reveals a chaotic interior and there is a gaping hole on an exterior wall that acts like a floodlight on the tangled mess. I am told that it is heritage listed, that the owner wanted to bulldoze the thing and that a bomb had caused the gaping hole. I think “poor Adelaide”.

My move to Yellow Door Studios was prompted by a lack of affordable rental space in the city precinct, where older buildings here are making way for boring but functional apartments. I am very happy with my move. The Kent Town and St Peters area is blessed with many older buildings that give a unique atmosphere of past existence in the inner suburbs. The challenge is for government to promote this, and for architects, designers, developers and retailers to use their creativity to incorporate this rich history into their practices. The older commercial buildings on Payneham Road can come to life again in a unique way.

Adrian Caon  Artist