Graffiti Protection at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) in Footscray, Victoria, is a powerful symbol of community and creativity. It also represents practical innovation in heritage and urban protection. The centre was founded to support immigrants escaping conflict, instability, and persecution. It now provides essential programs offering legal help, healthcare, food, accommodation, training, and employment pathways for vulnerable newcomers. 

In 2018, the ASRC’s prominent exterior wall became the site of a creative collaboration honouring former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser. Renowned muralist Heesco, alongside artists—Dvate, Conrad Bizjak, Mike Makatron, and Duke Styles—transformed the 100-metre-long wall spanning the ASRC and an additional 50 metres along an adjacent Ethiopian restaurant into a massive portrait and colourful expression of welcome, solidarity, and multicultural identity. 

However, street murals, no matter how respected, face constant threats from graffiti tags, vandalism, and staining. These issues can damage their visual quality and reduce their value to the community. The project organisers understood this risk and were determined to protect the mural.

Long-Term Benefits: Sustaining Street Art and Community Identity

For the ASRC mural, the project team chose Tech-Dry No More Graffiti, a specialised sacrificial coating. It forms a clear, thin film that protects the surface from graffiti and staining. Any unwanted tagging can be removed without abrasives or harsh chemicals, and the coating can be quickly re-applied to maintain ongoing protection.

Using Tech-Dry No More Graffiti delivered several advantages. Its transparent, non-intrusive finish preserved the mural’s colour and detail. The simple re-application process supported regular care of the wall, ensuring it remained a valued community landmark without risk of permanent damage.

Technically, the project highlights the importance of tailored surface protection in busy community environments. Public art and significant urban surfaces often need conservation solutions that balance vandalism resistance with the preservation of aesthetic, material, and cultural values. This case study shows how thoughtful product selection can support durability, ease of maintenance, and the safeguarding of cultural narratives.

Beyond the technical benefits, the ASRC mural reflects the centre’s broader values. Here, art functions as a language of inclusion, hope, and shared identity. Protecting the mural is not only about conservation, it is an investment in community dialogue, public education, and the celebration of contemporary Australia.

Why Tech-Dry No More Graffiti? 

• Provides a clear, sacrificial barrier against tagging, ink, and stains
• Facilitates easy, non-abrasive removal 
• Preserves original colour and detail—ideal for artistic works
• Enables ongoing re-application for continuous wall protection
• Eco-friendly formulation suitable for inner-city applications

For organisations seeking graffiti protection for murals, anti-graffiti coatings for public buildings, or surface treatments for community art, Tech-Dry offers proven solutions tailored to aesthetic, environmental, and performance needs. Contact Tech-Dry’s team to learn more about anti-graffiti coatings and protective systems for public art.