Sydney same-sex marriage mural of Tony Abbott marrying himself painted over
The mural of the two Tony Abbotts is no longer visible on Pitt Street at Redfern. (Supplied: Scott Marsh)
In short:
A street art mural in Sydney's inner south of former prime minister Tony Abbott marrying himself has been painted over.
Artist Scott Marsh says he found out about it by driving past the location and receiving messages.
What's next?
Marsh says he would be open to painting another mural on the wall if the property owners were interested.
Tony's special day has lasted eight years, which might just be a record for the longest wedding ceremony.
But it has finally come to an end for former prime minister Tony Abbott in an unceremonious splattering of grey paint.
Mural artist Scott Marsh, who painted the striking mural at Redfern in Sydney's inner south during 2017, said he was disappointed his art had disappeared.
"It is a real shame because I feel that mural really captured a moment in time with the same-sex plebiscite and became a bit of a landmark on Redfern Street,"Marsh said.
"I think just over the years I've become a bit desensitised to my murals disappearing, and I've grown to accept the fact that it's an ephemeral art: one day it's there, one day it's not."
Before: Tony Abbott mural at Redfern after it was first painted. 2017. . After: The painted over mural.. .
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He told the ABC back in 2017 he was inspired to make a statement about same-sex marriage after Mr Abbott urged Australians to "protect the family" with their vote in the same-sex marriage postal survey.
"When Tony Abbott released that video promoting the No vote, you could almost hear the whole country going, 'What the f***'," Marsh told Hack at the time.
He was originally trying to paint the mural in Mr Abbott's electorate in Manly, but struggled to find a wall big enough for the artwork.
"A lot of people generously offered up walls, but they were a bit too small to do anything that had a bigger impact.
"I've been getting great responses from people ... I was just listening to people laugh and screech all day," he told Hack.
Marsh painting part of the Tony Abbott mural at Redfern. (triple j Hack)
Artist says he wasn't warned
Marsh said he drove past the mural as he lives in the area and noticed scaffolding up against the wall.
"I figured something might be going on and then people just started messaging me with images of the new grey wall," he said.
"That's how I found out about it."
The removal of the artwork upset many within the community, with some voicing their views on social media.
"Vale Mr and Ms Abbott," one user posted to ABC Sydney's Facebook page.
"This is very sad. It was one of my favourite street art [sic]," a user commented on ABC Sydney's Instagram account.
"Just saw this - drab grey wall, & destroying landmark local culture. What were the landlords thinking? The locals are devo [sic]" another wrote.
Marsh said he would be open to painting a new mural if the property owners expressed interest.
The business the mural was painted on, Hunter's Corner, has posted to social media that they had no say in its removal, and that the annual building repair was "suggested, paid and taken care of by the owner".
"We as well have no say regarding the removal of the Tony Abbott's legendary mural (we and EVERYONE love it!!), which again IS NOT INTENTIONAL as the owner of the building wish to re-paint," it said.