Issue #02

29/5/26 - Cal Gillespie - 4 minute read

You know what they saying about time flying…

3 months later, we’re back with another instalment of The Bala Times. 

How time has flown. This has undoubtedly been the most action packed quarter in the history of Bala Graphics. Which is not hard to believe - considering we just celebrated our first birthday as a company. 

Usually, around this time of year; Melbourne goes into hibernation. After Easter, the silly season comes to an end, the last few social events of the year dry up, and we’re staring into the void of a 5 month-long winter where nothing much really happens. 

This year, it has been different.

Henry Lucas - Caulfield, May 2026

We’re currently sitting at the back end of May and we have not stopped painting. It would appear that the space in the market we occupy isn’t seasonal at all. That we, as a graphics company, follow the projects when and where they go. 

Let’s start close to home. Glen Eira Council issued a tender for a community focused mural in Caulfield park. As locals to the area, we pitched - and won!

After a quick site meet, we were excited to pitch our ideas and graphic styles with the council and their stakeholders. Now, this kind of mural doesn’t exactly come with creative licence. So after a few revisions, we came to a solution we could all agree would bring the local community joy.

Caulfield Park, April 2026

Navigating Autumn in Melbourne is tricky, especially when you’re slinging paint. With frosty mornings, passing showers, low sun and early evenings. So when we saw a sunny weather window, we locked into gear and cranked out this mural in 3 days, including an anti-graffiti clear coat.

That 18c and sunny May Friday was a god-send. 

The next day, Cam and I (slightly dusty after a few Friday afternoon knockoffs) boarded a flight to Townsville. We were on a mission from the Pub Gods (Australian Venue Co.) to paint a touristic, postcard beer garden mural in the courtyard of the newly refurbished Hotel Allen. 

But no mission is complete without a good briefing. So, on the Sunday morning, Cam and I boarded a ferry to the stunning Magnetic Island, to do some ‘market research’.

Magnetic Island, May 2026

That night, using supplied artwork, we got to work. 

Hotel Allen night projections - Townsville, May 2026

Suspecting this artwork was AI generated, we started replacing generic elements with local flora and fauna, landmarks and iconography.

We featured the black cockatoo, white bellied sea eagle, magnetic island and local palm species. All spotted on our day trip out to ‘Maggie’.

As a St Kilda fan, my favourite was the saint on Castle Hill, graffitied by a bunch of uni students in the 60s And cherished by the locals since.

A sweaty Cal - Townsville, May 2026

Hotel Allen - Townsville, May 2026

Meanwhile, back home in Melbourne; the studio was bubbling away with our next run of projects. Our friend Liane Barker helped us out painting & gilding these Bushmills mirrors for Harp & Hound.

Designed by us and expertly executed by Liane and her wealth of experience. The mirrors have found their way onto the gallery wall of the Irish Pub.

Bushmills Mirrors - Harp & Hound, May 2026

Meanwhile, back home in Melbourne; the studio was bubbling away with our next run of projects. Henry and Kay were busy gathering the materials for another council contract,

the Caulfield Underpasses. 

There was a tonne a planning involved in this large scale painting project. Navigating approvals, site access, inductions, portal access, tree pruning, site cleaning, pedestrian management, painting & anti-graffiti coating. On top of that, that damn Autumn weather!