The Story of the Graffiti Hall of Fame: Sydney’s 90s Rave Haven

In the early 90s, Tony Spanos used his wealth to create a community hub, immortalised in Sydney rave history, as “The Graffiti Hall Of Fame”: A two-story car park next to a family-owned meatworks in Sydney’s Alexandria. For over a decade, the space acted as a hub for grassroots youth and Indigenous organisations to fund raise, gather and intermittently, throw parties.
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#australia #sydney #rave #party #90s #graffiti #tagging

[@astroboy3507]

Respect to TONY thanks again for the good times and memories!!!!! 🙏

[@bondioneohfourthree7488]

Good onya Tony, Phil W, Bondi

[@thelostfutures]

Enormous amounts of respect to Tony and everyone in this video. I performed in 2001 at the Graf Hall of fame as The Chaos Technicians and it was one of the most amazing expereinces of my life. I was given the opportunity as a young tacker to perform with no resistance, no clique, no layers of social politics to negotiate through. If you had something half decent, you were able to get up and give it a crack. I want to follow Tony's lead and develop my own version of what he did. We need to reclaim Sydney for what it used to be, to be a playground opportunity for ANY artist, no matter their background, their age, their affilation, whatever, to perform if they have the ingenuity. That you dont need to jump through a million hoops of government and social clique to get a look in. Some crews are doing it now, but they are WAY underground, this needs to stop.

[@lucasjames8281]

As a young person from Sydney, this is simultaneously disheartening and inspiring. Who are these crews you speak of???

[@danconway7128]

Mad respect to Tony. A true legend.

[@KirillySpace]

Tony Spanos was everyone's patron saint. What a legend. What an incredible Spirit. Champion of the world!!!!!!!! Love you Tony. Thank you so much for the best of times. Xxx

[@bondioneohfourthree7488]

Hi Tony. Thanx for your time today Jun 2. Love your contribution, they must have been heady times in the 90's. Phil W

[@Newdaynewlifenewme]

I went there in 1992 sunday lunch. Chilled place. Easy going

[@YokRzeznic]

I lived there in 2001/2 with a small group of good folks, we were the last to leave. I did visit once about 8 months after we shut the doors, but it had been trashed by squatters. It was knocked down soon after. A lot of good memories and good people. What a time...

[@rodneyo3824]

A Fukn Legend In Australian History & My Friend!!! SALUTE TONY!!! #datphillycat Props

[@reggiemassive]

Played there in the late 90s, most memorable venue and crowd. Good times 🤩

[@ameliajohnson8426]

Tony is best there is and one and only, we love him, wish more more could be like him ❤

[@ameliajohnson8426]

Great story thank you Julie for publishing this, excellent 👌👍

[@samab3000]

I grew up in waterloo and still live here. Spanos, put some made raves on at the graffiti hall of fame. 90s were awesome for the rave seen. I was there that night when the guy got shot. Shut the whole place down

[@Don-IV]

50yrs of Hip-Hop... prob bout time we bring back the graff aye ✊🏾 Much Love Ton,Pete,Ming ❤ Mykonos 2009

[@endzonedicegame]

Tony is a certified legend , let’s bring him back 🎉👑🏆

[@joemurray3438]

i remember being at party there ,and at around 6am the cops shut the sound system down, but someone had a car inside with a decent system with a mix tape cassette....everyone just started dancing around the car. Good old days!

[@robvetta]

Tony Spanos is a fucking legend!!!

[@NinaB1977]

Takes me back to the 0055 number and graffiti hall of fame as the address circa very early 90s. Tony you are a pioneer truly. Saw Ming Darcy in there....I think the last time I saw him was 30 years ago playing in some warehouse in Alexandria.

[@matthewmistery1051]

Had some great times there & met some great people there too that are still mates to this day. Onya Tony. Champion of the world. (& thanks for letting us get food from the takeaway next door on tick. 😉)

[@chrisw6866]

Went to some awesome raves at hall of fame back in the day. Sad to see it’s now just some homogeneous grey units. Everywhere you look Sydney sold its soul..

[@Imogen_B]

Graffiti Hall was the best spot, Tony was an absolute God too!! xx

[@SURFINGVISIONS]

Great memories there even though I cant remember that far back.

[@satsmoon]

Respect.

[@CarrierSignals]

Fuck yeah. Keeping it real. Og pioneers 🤙🏼

[@jase77.]

Seeing that fading DMOTE piece on that wall is so sad. I had some of the best times of my life in that place from 92-94. I hope kids have some sort of outlet today and not just their mobile phones.

[@isabella4611]

there is a whole debate around the lack of "third places" available for young people these days.

[@jase77.]

@@isabella4611 sorry if I’m assuming you’re in your 20’s but what do you guys do nowadays ? I went out in Sydney a few months ago and it was dead , Newtown was busy but no where near what we had in the 90’s. It was very depressing.

[@isabella4611]

@@jase77. it is super depressing. My mum was a 90s skater and spent a lot of time in newtown. She died in 2016 but she left me heaps of photos and newspaper and i partially live through those to connect back to old sydney, but yeah sydney is completely different now. What do kids do? Not much, hence the youth crime. Cant even really go to a park without the cops showing up and telling you to move on. In my honest reflection, i dont really do anything for fun, theres no nightlife, i dont have the money to go out and eat, and houseparties are super cliquey (DUNJ, newtown).

[@jase77.]

@@isabella4611 condolences for you and your mum Isabella. That sounds worse than I thought. You’re right about cost of living though. You almost have to take out a loan to go out for a drink.

[@juzza99]

Respect tony. Party in early 90s at GOF

[@slyonme]

it was like this everyday back in the 90/s

[@chrisalexanderkiprovski3759]

Good old tony

[@davidwood8439]

wish we had more youth centres and free stuff to do for the kids, just to have a destination each week to look forward to going to, to forget about whatever is going on and connect with others and find information to help.

[@Theo11274]

Tony greetings from Cyprus brother !

[@kkkkaran]

nice story. thanks

[@cptechno1218]

1) The late 1980s is not quite 40 years when you consider this is dated 8 months ago (2023). 2) That's a Melbourne train. 3) I have never heard that Sydney was once known as the dance capital of the world 🤣🤣🤣

[@tasmaniancaptain7768]

Great energy tony bravo levendi

[@theveganboxingchannel9395]

Slither

[@jacksalami9945]

Plenty of Pingas popped there

[@danielmcaloon4691]

In the 90s they were called E and we dropped quite a few there.

[@jaffa3910]

SAME!!💊💊😃😃

[@hajipav]

Back when Sydney was a cool place to live ….

[@aaronmckechnie4467]

It was alright 😛