Pam the Bird Graffiti Sparks Preservation Debate in Melbourne

A massive graffiti of a cartoon bird dubbed 'Pam the Bird' on Melbourne's Bolte Bridge has ignited a public debate over whether it should be preserved or removed. On July 7, 2026, 22-year-old graffiti artist Jack Gibson-Burrell surrendered to police after a standoff atop a 140-foot tower on the bridge, where he had abseiled to tag the bird and the text 'Fuck You.' He faces over 200 charges related to prolific graffiti across Melbourne, including tagging the Flinders Street railway station clock tower, plus separate assault charges. Nearly 9,000 petitioners on GetUp, led by Eric Giordmaina, urge the city to preserve the artwork as 'spontaneous urban culture,' citing its popularity and the high cost of removal—tens of thousands of Australian dollars. Police arrested Gibson-Burrell after he allegedly forced a door to access the tower; he was out on bail at the time. A now-deleted Instagram account 'pambirdofficial' showed a masked man demanding tax cuts. The Victoria Police label Gibson-Burrell a 'notorious vandal.' The petition stresses it does not endorse illegal acts.