It was only a matter of time before an artist decided to beautify the city's new concrete bollards.

One of the brutalist eyesores at Southern Cross station is believed to be the first to get a makeover: it's now covered in colourful fabric stripes.

Spot the difference. Credit:Hannah Francis

Melbourne's "bollard bandit", David Gray, hand-sewed a cover for it using old scraps of material, and installed it on Wednesday.

"It's about community art," he said. He hopes the bollards won't be covered in advertising instead.