For more than a year, the character of “Pam the Bird” soared over Melbourne, appearing on city landmarks, skyscrapers and road signs.
The city’s unwanted enigma could be grounded though, with the cartoon bird’s alleged creator now behind bars.
Jackson Gibson-Burrell, a 21-year-old from Yarraville, faced the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on more than 50 charges, accused of graffitiing landmarks including the Flinders Street Station clock tower, the “Cheese Stick” column on CityLink and Channel Nine’s Docklands headquarters.
Matthew Raoul White (left), 39, and 21-year-old Jackson Gibson-Burrell have appeared in court over the alleged “Pam the Bird” graffiti. (ABC News)
Just a week ago, Pam the Bird appeared on the Novotel South Wharf, a shimmering gold tower that stands 26 storeys high.
Victoria Police Senior Constable Scott Nicholls described Mr Gibson-Burrell as “a notorious vandal” who was unemployed, sometimes violent, and desperate to “maintain his status” in the city’s graffiti scene.
“He will frequently abseil to vandalise property with graffiti,” the officer said.
“The distinct cartoon bird graffiti is instantly recognisable to many people, even those with a less than passing interest in the Melbourne graffiti scene.”
On Friday, the officer spent more than an hour describing how the men allegedly trespassed, broke into buildings, climbed dozens of flights of stairs and then abseiled down the exteriors to paint the distinctive bird.
Pam the bird spray paint images have appeared on numerous buildings across Melbourne.
Mr Gibson-Burrell was said to have used a fire extinguisher filled with black paint on some occasions.
Clean-up bill more than $100,000
Over the past year, Melbourne train carriages had been the main target of the vandalism, police said, with the total clean-up bill for all the graffiti in excess of $100,000.
Police allege another man, 39-year-old Matthew Raoul White, helped Mr Gibson-Burrell by taking photos of the alleged vandalism and assisted him with abseiling from dangerous heights. Mr White did some of the spray painting, Senior Constable Nicholls alleged.
Flanked by security guards, Mr Gibson-Burrell and Mr White sat in the court dock. Mr Gibson-Burrell appeared to have a broken nose which was badly bruised. Mr White smiled and waved to a supporter in the court gallery.
Police argued the men should be kept in custody and not released on bail while their cases move through the court system.
Senior Constable Nicholls said the men would “certainly” reoffend if they were allowed back into the community.
Handwriting analysis part of evidence
He said evidence collected against the men included security footage, handwriting analysis, bank records and email addresses linked to a Pam the Bird Instagram account.
A Santa Claus outfit allegedly worn by Mr Gibson-Burrell in an Instagram video was also found at his house during the police raids, the court was told.
A “distinctive” Kathmandu jacket and a hiking bag, allegedly owned by Mr White, were also located.
Police allege Jackson Gibson-Burrell was also involved in a ramraid at a Nando’s restaurant last year. (ABC News)
Footage also played to the court showed a man with a resemblance to Mr Gibson-Burrell punching a worker at Melbourne’s Emporium shopping centre in 2023.
Police also allege he was involved in ram-raiding a stolen car through a Nando’s restaurant in Footscray last year.
The car was spray painted with the words “We don’t accept cash here” and “Nando dogs”, the court heard.
The bail application was adjourned until Tuesday next week, with the men remanded in custody.
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