new member from Melbourne

jwjacob · 06 Dec 2015, 2:45 am

hello explorers, im Jacob ...
I probably call myself a graff hunter. I like to find and photograph graff/art inside abandos. Over the last year or so I have concentrated on exploring for houses and factories and its great when I can find them, Ive found places in abt 10 suburbs. I am keen to start exploring drains, but first I wld like to connect with someone a bit more experienced who can share with me some tips about how to find good locations. There are times when Ive ridden 20 ks or more looking for abandos and come up with nothing ... so its kind of deflating coz I know there are a lot out there. So after a long time of being on my own with this, I've decided to join this forum. It would be great to be able to discuss this stuff with someone else, and get some feedback because generally it is guarded and kept very secret, which I can understand why, and agree with.
I can share photo's as well.
cheers

Echo · 06 Dec 2015, 8:36 am

Welcome! How old are you?
Cheers, Echo

jwjacob · 06 Dec 2015, 9:43 am

I am 33 ...

spigot · 06 Dec 2015, 2:46 pm

Welcome!

I like taking photos of graff in drains, some of it's really old. Especially in the outer (estate) suburbs, you can see how a suburb has developed by watching when most of the graff gets put up, like all the kids from the initial population all seemed to hit their teenage rebel phase around 1995

jwjacob · 07 Dec 2015, 12:42 pm

spigot wrote:I like taking photos of graff in drains, some of it's really old. Especially in the outer (estate) suburbs, you can see how a suburb has developed by watching when most of the graff gets put up, like all the kids from the initial population all seemed to hit their teenage rebel phase around 1995

thank you !! Ive been wanting to explore drains as well ... the older drains near the inner suburbs, perhaps the anzac drain, and there are a few canals around, but thats a good tip ... cheers !!

Crispex · 07 Dec 2015, 2:28 pm

jwjacob wrote:anzac drain

You may want to purchase this:

spigot · 07 Dec 2015, 4:57 pm

jwjacob wrote:anzac drain

spigot wrote:I wouldn't do it unless you absolutely have to. There have been illegal sewerage hookups draining into ANZAC for the good part of a century now, so the water in the dam is pretty festy, stagnating without continuous flow (should mention the E. coli count of the Yarra in that region was already way above the recommended limit even before they put the dam in!)

Someone told me a while ago that residents have been told (by MW) to call cops if they see anything suspicious. Not sure about sensors but I've heard that patrols have been put on every so often to look out for raves and casual explorers.. A few people have told me about being questioned by the fuzz since MW started the works.

It's dammed up to the Chamber so it's a bit of a slog in gumboots. Not worth going out of your way for if there are other drains around you haven't done.

P.S. Also remember to replace manhole exits or else they get sealed over, especially at a formerly-popular location like ANZAC. This is really important for the sustainability of locations. I still wouldn't go in via a manhole due to the stagnation...

Dungeon, Dwellers, Maze, Great Stairway and Mini 10th are always good.

Up the main side-tunnel (the former Oakleigh North Drain) of Mini 10th (near Chadstone) there are sometimes a few nice pieces (and a slashed guestbook, grr).

Echo · 07 Dec 2015, 5:12 pm

spigot wrote:(and a slashed guestbook, grr).

Do you think CC will try and cleanup that guestbook? I mean you'd basically have to just paint a whole new one but ahhh that massive throwie is just so ugly. It makes me sad every time I see it. I mean what kind of absolute d*** do you have to be to paint over a guestbook when there's so many other completely free spaces in that drain.... One of the reasons I find myself liking graffiti artists less and less. I didn't really get people's view of them when I first started urbex but I have started to see the harm they can cause and their absolute callous disrespect for locations.

jwjacob wrote:-

Also to add to spigot's little list of good drains apart from Anzac, Clan Tomb and GOD are nice, large, easy to explore drains.

spigot · 08 Dec 2015, 4:05 pm

Echo wrote:
spigot wrote:(and a slashed guestbook, grr).
Do you think CC will try and cleanup that guestbook? I mean you'd basically have to just paint a whole new one but ahhh that massive throwie is just so ugly. It makes me sad every time I see it. I mean what kind of absolute d*** do you have to be to paint over a guestbook when there's so many other completely free spaces in that drain.... One of the reasons I find myself liking graffiti artists less and less. I didn't really get people's view of them when I first started urbex but I have started to see the harm they can cause and their absolute callous disrespect for locations.

I think some people tried a while ago to buff it out, but it didn't work that well. You can still make out some of the old tags, but not easily. I think the reason they haven't put another one up there is that it's an area (ie. the envelope bit) that gets graffed quite often (I've bumped into writers up there on at least one occasion). It'll probably just get slashed again.

Echo wrote:
jwjacob wrote:-
Also to add to spigot's little list of good drains apart from Anzac, Clan Tomb and GOD are nice, large, easy to explore drains.

These are top tier indeed, generally easy to do too.

Midget · 09 Dec 2015, 3:35 pm

Welcome to the forums!

jwjacob · 20 Dec 2015, 12:58 pm

Midget wrote:Welcome to the forums!

thank you !!

jwjacob · 20 Dec 2015, 3:17 pm

spigot wrote:Welcome!

I like taking photos of graff in drains, some of it's really old. Especially in the outer (estate) suburbs, you can see how a suburb has developed by watching when most of the graff gets put up, like all the kids from the initial population all seemed to hit their teenage rebel phase around 1995

heya spigot, i sent you a private message, but its sitting in my outbox ... so a bit unsure if you have received it.

Vicinity · 20 Dec 2015, 8:51 pm

jwjacob wrote:
spigot wrote:Welcome!

I like taking photos of graff in drains, some of it's really old. Especially in the outer (estate) suburbs, you can see how a suburb has developed by watching when most of the graff gets put up, like all the kids from the initial population all seemed to hit their teenage rebel phase around 1995

heya spigot, i sent you a private message, but its sitting in my outbox ... so a bit unsure if you have received it.

Sits in your outbox until he reads it

spigot · 20 Dec 2015, 10:39 pm

CafeCSK wrote:
jwjacob wrote:
spigot wrote:Welcome!

I like taking photos of graff in drains, some of it's really old. Especially in the outer (estate) suburbs, you can see how a suburb has developed by watching when most of the graff gets put up, like all the kids from the initial population all seemed to hit their teenage rebel phase around 1995

heya spigot, i sent you a private message, but its sitting in my outbox ... so a bit unsure if you have received it.
Sits in your outbox until he reads it

hey, sorry, haven't logged in for a while, PM sent!