Local artist Tina de Jong, council cultural officer Lauren Reynolds and mural artist Patrick Hunter with the new artwork Happy Dance at the intersection of Fitzmaurice and Johnston streets. Photo: Wagga Council.
A busy Wagga Wagga intersection has been transformed into a bold new public artwork, with a large-scale mural at Fitzmaurice and Johnston streets nearing completion.
The building wall facing Johnston Street has been brought to life over the past two weeks by environmental artist Patrick Hunter, as part of Wagga Council’s endorsed Public Art Plan 2022–2026.
Titled Happy Dance, the mural features two brolgas — once a familiar sight in the Wagga Wagga region — captured mid-ritual in an elegant, celebratory dance. The composition uses soft golds, violets and warm reds to suggest either dusk or dawn, with river red gums framing the birds as they meet beak-to-beak in a moment of renewal.
Motorists and pedestrians passing through the intersection have been watching the work evolve, with sections of the brick wall gradually shifting from a plain surface to a vivid, recognisable scene.
Mr Hunter, who describes himself as an environmental artist, says his work is about more than just imagery on a wall.
“For me, community and environment are one and the same, and a mural becomes a way to bring people together around the places and stories they share,” he said.
He said the choice of brolgas was deliberate, pointing to their decline in the region.
“The brolga has become rare in this region, so I wanted this mural to be a celebration of what remains and a tip of the hat to Wiradyuri and First Nations land custodians along with community groups, landholders and conservationists quietly doing the work to keep the habitat alive and the brolgas dancing.”
Local emerging artist Tina de Jong was engaged to assist with the painting, working alongside Hunter on the large-scale installation.
“As an emerging artist, it’s been invaluable having the chance to work with Pat on a project of this scale. Characterising the unique, local environment is a big part of both of our arts practice, so it has been a great pairing,” she said.
“He has been an inspiring, supportive mentor on the technical aspects of this amazing work. I have also enjoyed his views on people’s relationship with their surroundings and public art.”
Motorists and pedestrians have seen the progression of the mural over the past two weeks. Photo: Wagga Council.
Wagga Wagga City Council cultural officer Lauren Reynolds said the mural added vibrancy to one of the city’s busiest gateways into the CBD.
“Public art creates a sense of place and is a way of telling our Wagga stories in unique and creative ways,” she said.
“Close to the Wollundry Lagoon and Cultural Precinct, and highly visible from Fitzmaurice Street, this new mural I’m sure will spark new conversations and be an attraction for locals and visitors to the city.”
The Wagga project follows other recent regional public art installations across the Riverina, including a striking VR-designed mural at East Griffith Public School, where an artist recently overcame vertigo to complete the large-scale work. That Griffith piece similarly blends contemporary design techniques with community storytelling, reflecting a growing trend of schools and councils using mural art to reimagine public spaces.
Mr Hunter’s work can be viewed on Instagram, while other public artworks across the Wagga Wagga local government area are listed at publicart.
