Hotel protest raises a stink: Midland Kalamunda Reporter

Sock it to ‘em... Chris Davenport started the campaign for Guildford residents to protest about the state of the Guildford Hotel. Picture: Matthew Poon Sock it to ‘em... Chris Davenport started the campaign for Guildford residents to protest about the state of the Guildford Hotel. Picture: Matthew Poon

31/Aug/2010

By Kaitlyn Offer, Midland-Kalamunda Reporter


FANS of the Guildford Hotel have started to show the owners of the landmark building how much they think the fire-damaged site stinks by tying old socks and pantyhose to the surrounding fence.

Guildford resident Chris Davenport was inspired to take the colourful and unusual action after a trip to Albany, where she saw a protest by the Urban Sock Bombers.

The group has put hundreds of socks on the fence of the former Esplanade Hotel site, which has been empty since it was demolished in January 2007.

Ms Davenport said she and her partner tied the first socks to the fence after the August 14 rally held adjacent to the Guildford Hotel in a bid to prompt action on the site.

“It was an opportunity to make a personal statement and instead of just a one-day event, it’s a measure of discontent for every car that drives by,” Ms Davenport said.

“This is the cornerstone of Guildford, it’s the focus point, and instead of being a jewel it’s a black eye and it’s a tragedy.”

Last Tuesday, there were more than 50 socks on the fence.

Ms Davenport called for more residents to sock it to the building’s owners.

The heritage-listed Guildford Hotel burnt down in September 2008.

Since then, residents have been vocal with their concerns over the safety and future of the building, using Freedom of Information laws to obtain a Heritage Council report, which said roof needed to be replaced.

However, the hotel’s part-owner Luke Martino said a private report found the building to be fine without a roof.

He said plans to rebuild had been hampered by the economic downturn.

Check this out

11/07/2010

Hon. Brendon John Grylls MLA

Level 9 East
Dumas House
2 Havelock Street
West Perth WA 6005

Dear Brendon,

This is an initial enquiry on behalf of many who live in the Great Southern and an even greater number who visit the Great Southern.

As you probably know, the Esplanade Hotel site is now up for sale. The asking price is $15,000,000.00. Given the owners purchased the block and building for around $10,000,000.00 and the only site improvements in the intervening four years have been the demolishing of the building and the installation of a public art project, now referred to as the “Sock Fence”.

What this means, Brendon, is that public art has arrived at a new benchmark in West Australia, for the “Sock Fence” appears to be worth $5,000,000.00

This is great news for those involved in public art.

Now, my particular group, The Urban Sock Bombers, who so far have been derided as a subversive, trouble making group,  wish to re-establish themselves as serious artists and play a more active and sensible role in the wider community.

It is due to this necessary change of attitude that we are writing to you to ascertain the possibility of a grant from your Royalties for Regions stock pile. Our budget would be as follows:

           

           

Purchase of block of Esplanade Hotel site land	$10,000.000.00
Purchase of public art – “Sock Fence”	$5,000,000.00
Re-installation of “Sock Fence” at new site	371.00
Building of contemporary hotel with accompanying residences for president and treasurer of Urban Sock Bombers collective	271,00,000.00
Total	$286,000,00.00

The re-installation of the “Sock Fence”  in a new location and the building of a major new, luxury hotel to house the many tourists who will inevitably flock to see such an amazing installation – a unique combination of public art and public protest - will enhance the ability of the region to flourish in this new millennium.

I am sure, Brendon, you, as a young, virile and energetic creative thinker, can see the merit of such a project.

We in the Urban Sock Bombers collective would be more than happy to oblige you with plenty of photo opportunities with a view to enhancing your own public profile and we fully intend maintaining a room at the inn for your constant pleasure.

Yours in community,

Urban Sock Bombers Collective

MORE YARNS FROM THE STREETS OF ALBANY

 

 

$5 million? For Socks?

Read carefully.

The owners of the Esplanade site paid somewhere around $10,000,000 for the block, yes, plus a BUILDING.
There is no longer a building on the site.
There is only sand, weeds, a few handsome shrubs, lots of human debris and a few fallen socks.
The site has lain dormant for nearly four years: no improvements.
Property values in Albany have fallen over those four years.
This means, forgive me if my maths are out, that CS Partners are asking for $5,000,000 for SOCKS!
Brilliant.
That is probably a record price for a public art project.

Don't panic, but it's not the end yet

This is today's (6/7/2010) Albany Advertiser.
It looks good, but the block has to be sold, and the council has to ensure some of the vacant land is developed for public use, or the socks will return.
The community has embraced this site, taken ownership of its fence, festooned it with socks, and invcested in its future.
And had some fun on the way.

The cartoon from the Albany Advertiser, 6/7/2010.

This is not new. Or is it?

There is no doubt that people all over have been hanging things on fences for some time now.
Examples this blogger has seen with his own eyes include boots (NZ), bikes (NZ) and underpants (West Australia).
But most of these are about random fun, not about public protest.
Down here in the deep south of West Australia our sock fence has deep and heart felt meaning.
Sure, it looks good. Sure it's fun. But we're angry.
We want a vacant site replenished, or returned to the community.
Anyway, check the others out:
locks and lovers
locks and lover
weird stuff in NZ