Jamie Redfern celebrity print 1973

Summary

This concrete handprint and footprint was formerly located as a part of the iconic McEwans celebrity pavement. Between 1972 and 1994, scores of celebrities had their handprints and footprints immortalised in cement at the entrance to the McEwans hardware store on Bourke Street. The City of Melbourne Art and Heritage Collection acquired a number of these impressed concrete slabs from the original celebrity pavement in 2005.

"In 1971, aged fourteen, Jamie Redfern was an original team member on Young Talent Time, hosted by Johnny Young on Channel ATV-0. His chart-topping solo records saw him voted Outstanding Newcomer in the 1971 TV Week King of Pop awards. Presenting the award was visiting celebrity, Liberace, with whom Redfern would tour the US in 1972-73. The following year he was voted King of Pop. Redfern was in Melbourne in March 1973, as supporting act to Liberace at Festival Hall, as part of ‘Mr Showmanship’s Australian tour. In June 1973, the Jackson Five were in Australia on tour and Redfern got a call from Molly Meldrum saying that Michael Jackson wanted to meet him. (In Redfern’s recollection, Meldrum told him: ‘He said you’re the best singer he has ever heard.’) Redfern and Jackson went ten-pin bowling together at the lanes under the Southern Cross Hotel." - Robyn Annear, 2023