As such, Victoria ended up with 19,581 more businesses at the end of the 2025-26 financial year than it had when the year began, notes the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Many of these businesses will require a sign above their doors, windows or walls. Most of them will go for either vinyl or printed lightboxes, as both options provide speed and familiarity. Others will go slow, and these are the signs people tend to take pictures of. So, why is it that a brush sign remains interesting despite a city full of screens and print?
The Dying Art
During the 1980s, most sign painters in Australia packed away their brushes and went for vinyl cutters due to the advantages of faster work and reduced costs for both the customers and themselves. Brush painting is not taught anymore in Australian trade colleges, reports a national fellowship study about the art. The only way it can be learnt now is via mentoring, private classes and other sign painters willing to impart knowledge.
What a Human Hand Gives to a Sign?
Take a close look at a hand-painted letter and you’ll notice tiny variations in the weight of each stroke. Those subtle changes give the lettering a warmth that printed letters just can’t match. The way spacing is done is different too; a signwriter will judge every gap by eye, taking into account how far away the viewer is likely to be. Software just spaces letters out by numbers, whereas a trained hand will space them for the person walking past to see. Hand painted signage Melbourne businesses commission also settles into the building in a way that vinyl doesn’t; it looks like it’s part of the building, not just slapped on the side. When it comes to an old, uneven wall, a skilled signwriter will adjust each stroke to suit the surface it’s on. And let’s face it, older facades almost never provide a smooth, clean surface for vinyl to stick to.
Melbourne’s Walls Have Their Own Story to Tell
Faded advertisements are still stuck to the walls of old milk bars and warehouses in the inner suburbs. Many of these ghost signs once advertised flour, tea or tobacco, and some have survived well after the businesses that put them up have gone out of business. The City of Port Phillip has been going through records of these painted signs and is inviting people to send in photos. They’re working with heritage experts and uni students to document thirty-two signs they found in their initial survey. Richmond’s Skipping Girl sign, which is actually a neon sign rather than a painted one, is now on the Victorian Heritage Register. The thing is, good lettering does more than just advertise; it’s a way that a street remembers itself over time.
Where Hand Painted Signage Really Comes Into Its Own?
Hand-painted signage is really suited to businesses that sell experiences, crafts or build trust with their customers rather than just dishing out daily specials. There are a few types of businesses where it really shines:
There are some jobs, though, that are better suited to print, and a good signwriter will tell you that straight out. Short-term promotions, photo-based artwork and prices that change all the time are faster and cheaper to print. Really, what works best is to mix and match; save the brushwork for the things that don’t need to change.
How to Plan a Painted Sign Without Any Surprises?
Before you even start designing anything, check if the building is under any heritage overlays or local signage regulations. Getting council approval can take a while, so it’s a good idea to get that sorted out first. Painting a sign and then trying to get approval later can lead to having to make some costly changes. How you get the surface ready is also a big deal; if the render is cracked or the paint is flaking, you’ll need to sort that out first. Ask your signwriter what kind of paints and primers will be best for the job, depending on what the building is made of. It’s a good idea to get a scaled drawing done before you start painting; changes are a lot easier to make on paper than they are on the wall. Skilled signwriters often have to book work weeks in advance, so make sure you factor that into your plans. And it’s also a good idea to put a bit of money aside for touch-ups later on, because Melbourne weather can be pretty rough on outdoor signs.
