Graffiti explosion in Castlemaine prompts full-time council graffiti officer

The Central Victorian town of Castlemaine, with its quaint miners' cottages and tree-lined streets, is known for having the highest number of fine artists per capita in Australia. Key points: Crime statistics show Castlemaine has overtaken Melbourne as the graffiti capital of Victoria Mount Alexander Shire is focusing on prevention and clean-up The graffiti scene wants the council to provide designated spaces for taggers and artists But across the old gold mining town, there has been a growing trend of "art" of a different kind: graffiti tags marring its historic facade. Graffiti crime statistics On a per capita basis, Mount Alexander Shire, which includes Castlemaine, has overtaken Melbourne as Victoria's graffiti capital, based on ABC analysis of Crime Statistics Agency figures. "The offenders believe it's a form of art where most of the people in Castlemaine, the business holders and the residents, will just see it as scribble," he said. The rise of offences has prompted Mount Alexander Shire Council to employ a graffiti officer at $60,000 per year, to "coordinate reporting, removal and prevention activities" in the shire.