A new mural, like the one on the corner of Baylis and Tompson streets, has been approved for 42 Fitzmaurice Street. Photo: Wagga Wagga City Council.
A new mural depicting the brolga, a native species of tall birds, will soon be painted in the centre of Wagga.
Following recent council approval, the mural will adorn 42 Fitzmaurice Street, just past the historic 2WG Radio sign.
Wagga Wagga City Council has approached Sydney-based painter Patrick Hunter to create the mural under the recommendation of the city’s Public Art Advisory Panel (PAAP).
The panel comprises eight members, including two councillors, council staff, an industry representative and two local artists.
The role of the PAAP is to advise council as it delivers on its 2022-26 Public Art Plan, which aims to support local arts, enhance public spaces and express the city’s history and identity.
Member of the PAAP and council’s cultural officer Lauren Reynolds said the mural would serve as the artwork of the current art plan, following an installation in Estella depicting famous blacksmith August Menneke’s popular bull bells.
“Heading into the last year of the current public art plan, we thought that we would move forward with a project in the CBD,” Ms Renyolds said.
“Murals have proved to be really popular in the past. We have a great one at the intersection of Baylis and Thompson streets, which has been there for a number of years and is still very popular. So we looked for a great wall for a mural and landed on the wall at 42 Fitzmaurice Street.
“Part of the project’s endorsement was the selection of artist Patrick Hunter. They’re a Sydney-based artist, and they will travel to Wagga later this year to paint the mural themselves.
“The design will be focused on the story of brolgas, which is a native bird that was once found here, quite commonly in Wagga.”
Ms Reynolds said it was important for Wagga to maintain and consistently update its public arts displays to attract people to the region and demonstrate the community’s history and artistry.
“It is really important. In this case, it’s about contributing to the vibrancy of the CBD, which is the intention of this artwork,” she said.
“People from all over the country are attracted to public artwork, with murals in particular proving to be very popular when people were able to visit. They become an attraction to a place.
“We hope to improve the main street with this work and are really confident that when it is completed, it will do that.”
