HOW TO PAINT A STOBIE POLE
Here in South Australia many of our streets have Stobie Poles, instead of the usual power poles. We can thank James Cyril Stobie for his invention of a termite-resistant alternative giving the community the perfect canvas.
Why not transform these concrete surfaces into something bright and colourful?
In May 2023, I painted six new designs in front of Rosary Primary School on Gladstone Road, Prospect. This project has been funded by the City of Prospect and included a mini-residency for Year 4 students to paint a stencil with aerosol. Previously the poles had been painted, but they were faded, peeling, and in need of a refresh. Students were very excited to learn how to spray paint safely and thrilled to leave their mark in a public space.
So how do you paint a Stobie pole? Before you can whip out the aerosol, there is a fair bit of paperwork to organise. But don’t stress, it’s not too hard and I’ve found SA Power and councils in Adelaide very helpful to work with and supportive of these projects. You’ll also need permission from nearby residents for each pole you intend to paint.
Stobie pole before painting on Gladstone Road, Prospect.
Step 1: Seek permission from residents
Where is your pole? Check what houses, businesses, or buildings are nearby and ask permission to paint them. You will need written consent to show they approve for the next step. Port Adelaide Enfield has an easy letter template for you to use.
Step 2: Seek Permission from SA Power
You’ll need to take a photo of the pole and fill out a form to ask permission from SA Power. This is quite easy to do, but it is important, as some poles are not suitable for painting.
Step 3: Seek Permission from Council
Inform your local council of your project and you might also be eligible for funding or free paint. I applied for a Public Art Quick Response Grant with the City of Prospect to cover the costs of materials and my artist fee for working with students at Rosary School. I know many other councils in SA have a similar opportunity and Port Adelaide Enfield Council even has an initiative; Paint Ya Pole where you can get free paint and anti-graffiti coating.
Step 4: Prepare and Undercoat
Prepare your surface with good quality exterior paint. Every pole is different in size and texture. In my experience, some poles are very textured and you need to use a brush to get a nice smooth coverage. Others are totally fine with a roller and that’s a much quicker option. I’d recommend using painter's tape to create a nice neat line at the top and don’t forget your drop sheet to protect the pavement.
Step 5: Aerosol time
I’ve used a variety of MTN 94s and Hardcore paints with MTN NY Flat Caps and Banana Caps. I chose to keep each pole very different because it’s out the front of a school. For some poles I created a pattern, for some, I did a gradient background. I also built up layers and used lace to add detail.
Step 6: Stencils
Students at Rosary School collaborated with painting stencils onto the pole and also sprayed dots to make a pattern. They experimented with controlling the distance between the surface and the nozzle and learned how to get a crisp, even spray for stencils.
Students also collaborated with colour selection to make the images pop when you are walking or driving past. I’d recommend holding the stencil with a glove when you are spraying.
For this project we taped the designs on to avoid overspray, but that did create some issues when the Stobie pole wasn’t really flat.
This has been such a fun project and I hope the community is enjoying these new designs. Thank you to the City of Prospect for supporting this project and thank you to Principal Susanne Hennessy, Assistant Principal Stephen Campion, and Year 4 teachers Bernadette Basile, Christopher Byrne, and Olivia Andrew for their assistance with the project students.
It always thrills me to see Heads of Schools demonstrating creativity to the students and being willing to have a go at something new. Thank you, Principal Susanne Hennessy and Assistant Principal Stephen Campion for adding your mark!
Rosary School Principal Susanne Hennessy.
Rosary School Assistant Principal Stephen Campion.
Do you have a Stobie pole you’d like to paint? I’d love to hear about your project! Comment below or send me an email if you’re interested in a quote for your street to get a make-over.