Pat Perry, an internationally renowned artist known for his large-scale works across the globe, has painted a 90m long, over 20m wide mural on the rooftop of the acoustic shed erected over City Square. The shed was built as part of construction of the new Town Hall Station to ensure noise and dust is contained.

The elevated artwork pays homage to early Melbourne’s theatre history and was inspired by a visit to the Princess Theatre archives with prominent theatre owner and historian Elaine Marriner. The design shows a theatre troupe that might have graced the stage in the late 1800s.

The artwork will be seen by office workers in surrounding buildings, as well as the many guests of the neighbouring hotel, The Westin Melbourne.

Local street-art studio Juddy Roller has worked with Pat while two Melbourne artists, Georgina Goodnow and Jason Parker, assisted with the painting.

Metro Tunnel Creative Program has also commissioned local costume designer Nick Barlow to bring the designs to life for a real theatre troupe.

Photography by Chris Shorten