Owner of The Shack Cafe in Penrith, in Western Sydney, Stephen Ajami told The Daily Telegraph: “What I really wanted was to bring something to Penrith no one’s brought before”.

The cafe is currently closed, with the paint job part of its relaunch plans.

Mr Ajami added that the Melbourne-inspired theme signalled the start of a “new hip era for us as an up-and-coming-city”.

But locals are not convinced.

One local resident complained the new paint job looked “like a slum”.

“It’s handy to have on our street but it’s sad the shop looks like a slum, if they were going for a hip Melbourne look they failed,” she said.

Commenting on a Facebook post by the business unveiling the new look others wrote: “Looks like an abandoned skate park, sorry but very unappealing.”

“I though it was closed and abandoned too with the graffiti all over it.”

“What a horrible looking venue.”

However, not everyone is against the new look, with the Facebook post garnering some positive comments.

“Love the street art vibes,” one commenter wrote.

Neighbouring shopkeeper Ali, who runs The Crescent Mini Mart, told The Daily Telegraph that he hopes the new look will be good for business by bringing more people to the area.

“We need more business in the area and if people come around just to see the shop then it’s good for the community, I don’t know what other people will say but I think it’s great,” he said.

The new paint job covers the entire storefront as well as some of the interior, and was completed by Melbourne-based street artist Billie Jean, who has previously done work for US hip hop artists Slick Rick and J Dilla.

Mr Ajami said had hoped to create something reminiscent of the iconic Hosier Lane in the Melbourne CBD.

Posting on Facebook, the artist said: “The client wanted a Hosier lane type feel, so we did the best we can with this one. I’m not a graffiti artist! We just did what the client wanted.”

He told The Daily Telegraph: “I think it’s a pretty risky move to put it in the middle of Penrith.”

“But its definitely turning heads and that was the main purpose.”

The Shack Cafe, which is known for its health food options with a range of health food and vegan-friendly options, will re-open in February.