The Visual Story of Pulteney Street & Hurtle Square

It began with Step Back in Time — a project that used historical images to reconnect people with the heritage. These early wraps turned power boxes into mini‑galleries, proving that public art could live anywhere in the public realm and still feel meaningful, accessible and loved.

Building on that momentum, renowned artist Ella Simpson (@inkandrubystudios) created a new suite of artworks bursting with place‑based colours and bold motifs. 

Every colour in the palette comes directly from the natural and built environment, shaped through the Community Canvas sessions and conversations with neighbours about what made the area feel like "ours".

The designs celebrate the little things people love about the area:

• Heritage homes, Morton Bay figs, Sulphur‑crested Cockatoos
• Jacaranda flowers, Hurtle Square plaque, small dogs
• The Greek on Halifax chimney, eucalyptus flowers and plane‑tree leaves
• The Forest of Dreams sculpture, magpies, Ginkgo leaves from Halifax Street

These elements create a cohesive visual story — one that honours the past, celebrates the present and sets a bold, confident direction for the precinct's future identity.

The colours and motifs, now proudly embraced by the community, will be showcased this winter across the remaining power boxes in Hurtle Square and on our banner poles as street banners, connecting the City South‑East in a unified story alongside the Hutt Street artwork. Public Art on Power Boxes – Hutt Street | City of Adelaide