Arts

City renames prominent laneways after Adelaide music legends

City of Adelaide named Adelaide’s laneways after music pioneers Sia, Cold Chisel and No Fixed Address

Photos by City of Adelaide

Two new Adelaide stars have received honourary laneways, joining No Fixed Address, which got theirs last year.

Global megastar Sia, rock music royalty Cold Chisel have joined era-defining No Fixed Address in having city laneways named in their honour by the City of Adelaide.

The newly unveiled laneways, Sia Furler Lane and Cold Chisel Lane feature spectacular large-scale murals inspired by their Adelaide roots.

The laneways have been renamed to recognise the music artists’ beginnings in Adelaide and their invaluable contributions to music locally, nationally and internationally.

The project also celebrates Adelaide’s status as a UNESCO City of Music.

The Sia Furler Lane (named after internationally famous musician Sia) is located off Morphett Street, along the back of the Rockford Hotel. The laneway features a Sia-inspired mural by local artist Jasmine Crisp that pays tribute to the music of Sia through the eyes of a fan.

The location is close to where Sia began her singing career in acid jazz band Crisp in the mid-1990s, playing at the former Cargo Club on Hindley Street West.

Cold Chisel Lane (named after the legendary Australian rock group) is located in Adelaide’s West End, in a nook behind Hindley Street, and features a mural by renowned South Australian artist James Dodd. The lane is located at Cry Baby Bar and underneath the now under construction Sofitel Hotel.

The laneway and mural are just metres from where the Adelaide-formed rock band landed their first regular residency at the Mediterranean Hotel in the 1970s, now known as Red Square.

No Fixed Address Lane (renamed in honour of Aboriginal Australian reggae rock group) has been in the heart of the city since 2020. You can find it just parallel to Francis Street laneway, on the outer wall of the Rundle Place shopping complex, just off Rundle Mall.

Visual artists Elizabeth Close (Pitjanjatjara and Yankunytatjara woman), Thomas Readett (Ngarrandjeri and Arrente man) and Shane Cook (Guwa and Wulli Wulli man) were commissioned to complete the mural in No Fixed Address Lane, responding to the impact, significance and legacy of the band.

Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Sandy Verschoor, said the laneways project was a great way to add more public art to the city and promote its musical heritage.

“We are proud to honour this collection of unique and iconic music artists with spectacular murals and renaming Adelaide laneways in their honour,” the Lord Mayor says.

“The laneways will become music tourism destinations and attract local, interstate and international visitors to different parts of the city.”

Jimmy Barnes, Cold Chisel’s lead vocalist said the band had lots of good memories of their early days in Adelaide.

“Over the years we’ve continued to have great support at all of our gigs in the city,” says Barnes.

“I am sure I staggered into the laneway that’s now renamed after us lots of times as a young fella on my way home from a night out too,” he jokes.

No Fixed Address lead vocalist and drummer, Bart Willoughby, said the band was very proud to have a laneway renamed in their honour.

“It is very humbling to be in the small group of musical artists to have a laneway renamed after them and a mural of them painted,” he said.

“We hope this will help people learn about the influence our music had not only in Adelaide but interstate and overseas. Our band led the way for young up-and-coming Aboriginal bands. It wasn’t easy going against the mainstream and overcoming racism.

“We thank the City of Adelaide very much for what they’ve done,” says Willoughby.

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