Meet High-Vis Bird: our little protest candle to save an endangered species (like urban creatives)

A small candle. Universal gesture. Now wearing high-vis.

High-Vis Bird is our limited-edition candle for roadworks, red tape and all those unexpected life interruptions that make you want to throw your hands up — or raise one particular finger.

The idea came from our original Bird candle, which has stopped plenty of people in their tracks outside our Sydney Road window. It makes people laugh, starts conversations and somehow brings strangers together. With major works now happening around us, giving Bird a construction-ready makeover felt like the thing to do.

Why we made it

The Brunswick Tram Depot works are making it harder for people to reach us. Over the past month, we’ve already seen foot traffic drop — and for a small creative business like ours, this makes it genuinely challenging to stay afloat.

We’re not looking to pick a fight. We know infrastructure works need to happen. We’re simply trying to keep our doors open, our candles pouring and our little corner of Brunswick creative while the digging continues and bills continue to roll in.

Our bold goal is to sell enough High-Vis Birds to help cover the rent during the disruption. Like many creative businesses, we’re trying to survive.

High-Vis Bird is the gutsy little candle trying to survive the roadworks with us. It’s relatable, a bit cheeky and a reminder that sometimes all you can do is laugh, give life the bird and keep going.

How you can help

Buy a High-Vis Bird for yourself, send one to someone going through their own life interruption or share the campaign with a friend who enjoys a candle with a sense of humour.

When access to the shop is limited, you’ll still be able to find us online. We’ll also offer free local delivery across Brunswick and surrounding suburbs.

Every candle helps keep a local creative business flying.

Roadworks FAQ

What is happening?

Transport Victoria is upgrading the Brunswick Tram Depot to support larger trams, improve accessibility and relocate underground services.

How long will the works continue?

The notice says works around the depot precinct will continue until late 2026. Some of the more intensive works near Sydney Road are currently scheduled across July and early August, but dates and impacts may change.

Will Sydney Road close?

The notice advises that sections of Sydney Road may close at times between Donald Street and Mitchell Street. There may also be temporary lane, car park and footpath closures near the depot.

Can I still visit Wick-Zen?

Sometimes, yes. At other times, access may be difficult or unavailable. We don’t yet know exactly what will happen outside our shop or when, so we’ll share updates through our website and social channels as we receive them.

Can I still book Candle Bar sessions?

Yes, but honestly bookings may be a little tricky while the works are underway. Because we don’t have a clear schedule for what will be happening directly outside the shop, there may be noise, construction barriers, an unsightly outlook or periods when access is difficult.

We’ll do our best to keep sessions running and let booked guests know about any major changes. In some cases, we may need to adjust or reschedule a session if the disruption makes it impossible to deliver the warm, relaxed Candle Bar experience you’ve booked.

What if I can’t get to the shop?

You can shop online, and we’ll offer free local delivery across Brunswick and nearby suburbs during the disruption.

Give construction the Bird — and help keep a small Brunswick business flying.