Inspector of Nuisances

Published on 01 December 2007

The year is 1869 and three plump sows are seen almost every day gloriously wallowing in the creek bed that runs through the middle of the town in Kent Street.Outraged residents demand measures to abate this “filthy and disgusting sight”. The Inspector of Nuisances comes to the rescue! Appointed by Council, his job is to stop the daily and nightly wanderings of cattle, horses, goats and swine. It is a tough jig.
In one night he captures 40 straying cows. One day he rounds up a cow that has casually strolled into an office.
Another time, a cow meandering along Kent Street spots a woman walking with a basket of “luscious green morsels and starts in pursuit”. No sooner does the Inspector of Nuisances get on top of the problem of “well-bred pigs parading the streets” and wayward cows, then goats start creating havoc in the town.
The solution is tough new by-laws in 1878 authorising the Inspector to “seize, kill and destroy” any goats found at large.

Inspired by this story, Woolongong Artist Poncho Army created the artwork on the wall of the Kent Street Hub. She was assisted by local artists and students to apply the stencil artwork to the wall.