At Swift Walk, a small piece of the past is finding new life through the creativity of its newest residents, and this time, it is being served back with a personal twist.
A new interactive art piece invites residents to take a tennis ball and decorate it with a story of their own.
The artwork nods to the site’s heritage. Before Swift Walk became a rental community - that offers long-term security with leases of up to 5 years and a mixture of market and reduced rent housing - the site was once home to the Swift Tennis Ball Company, manufacturers of an innovative one-piece tennis ball. Today, that legacy is reimagined as a living piece that changes with each new resident who steps forward to add their mark.
Among the first to take part was Charlotte* and her family, who recently moved into Swift Walk as part of our reduced rent family cohort. Together, they decorated their tennis balls with drawings that reflect what this new chapter means to them.
When it came to decorating the tennis ball, I really wanted us to slow down and think about what we liked about this place and what this new chapter meant for us. I told the boys to focus on the things that felt exciting or important to them, and it was interesting to see how different their ideas were.
- Charlotte, Swift Walk resident and mother.
One son drew the New Year’s Eve fireworks they watched from the rooftop, a moment that has already become a family favourite. Another captured the short walk to his new school, just minutes away. A third drew a burglar with a cross through it, a symbol of the security that comes with living in a well-managed building.
“They’ve noticed that straight away. They feel safe here, and that gives them confidence. As a parent, that security makes me feel better too. It’s something I don’t have to worry about,” says Charlotte.
“It’s only been just over a month, and I’m starting to see familiar faces, and being able to say hi and have a quick little chat to some of my neighbours and it's a really nice vibe, especially for the kids as well.
Charlotte’s own tennis ball featured a phrase that holds particular meaning: honour your past, build your future.
“For me, that phrase is about acknowledging where you’ve come from,” she says. “The struggles, the achievements, the things that shaped you along the way. But it’s also about recognising that you still get to decide what comes next. We’re the architects of our own lives. I also liked that ‘build your future’ felt literal as well, because we’re in a brand-new building.”
That idea carries extra weight after years of housing uncertainty. Before Swift Walk, Charlotte had to move three times in seven years due to reasons like the landlord selling or deciding to renovate. With her previous home going onto a month-to-month lease, it was a catalyst to look for more stable housing.
“Swift Walk is where we’re settling for at least the next five years,” she says. “I’ve moved so many times that it starts to weigh on you. The first two places we lived in were only for a year, then the next one we went onto a month-to-month lease. That uncertainty was hanging over us. The long-term lease here was what I needed. I no longer have the fear of having to move again for reasons outside my control.”
It didn’t take long for it to feel like home. I thought there would be an adjustment period, because there always has been before. But this time, that feeling just didn’t come. We were so focused on enjoying the space and settling in.
- Charlotte, Swift Walk resident and mother.
Charlotte says getting to know Kensington and surrounds (including Melbourne’s CBD!), has made the summer school holidays particularly special.
“We’ve been exploring on our scooters and bikes, stopping at playgrounds along the way so the boys can play, and when they’re older, we’ll head to the skate parks too. I go to the café across the road, Borghetti’s, whether it’s just me or with the boys, and they know me now, which is really nice. Having everything so close means I don’t even have to use my car, I just walk, ride or take the train. It’s all easy access.”
Like any good tennis match, the installation is built on small moments that all add up.
Find out more about Swift Walk here.
*The resident’s name has been changed to protect their privacy. All quotes are shared with permission
