Ahhh yes! The infamous public phone booth. An element of urban design seen all around the world. I often think to myself, how can something be so visible yet so invisible?

It was only until I made it my mission to locate all of the phone booths in Footscray’s CBD that I really took note of all the locations where phone booths stood. 

I have grown up in the area since ‘97. I consider Footscray’s phone booths reminiscent of a time where social connectivity wasn’t as easy as opening an app and shooting a DM. On my journey locating these urban relics, I was surprised how much I never took much notice of particular booths. This made me think about how well such a big feature can really mould into the landscape around. 

These phone booths have stood for years, and will continue to do so. However, very rarely do I see one in proper use. On the rare occasions that I see one being used, It usually mirrors a punching back rather than a communication device, a lucky dip for coin hunters or a leaning post for those who have had a few too many…*insert substance*. It seems Footscray’s phone booths have a love hate relationship with the characters of the area. When not surrounded by a pool of vomit, spit or shopping trollies, these structures stand quietly waiting for their next friend to give them love and attention. This is my selection of images showing the grace of some of Footscray’s telstra phone booths.