Murals

The Mural program seeks to create public art for the enjoyment of residents and visitors to Ashfield. As far as design features go, Council has encouraged works that depict scenes of Australian landscape, flora and fauna. This is partly to create images that are readily identifiable to local people and emphasise the beautiful natural resources which make up our native landscape. The preference for Australian landscape and nature themes is also because we live in a very densely populated urban environment and the natural images depicted hopefully provide relief from the concrete and bitumen built environment in which we are surrounded.The murals are designed to not only beautify the area, but also to create an alternative and deterrent to unsightly graffiti and tagging activity. 

You are invited to contact Anthia Hart on 9716 1866 or anthiah@ashfield.nsw.gov.au if you have any comments about the existing murals or have some ideas on potential future sites. 

Latest mural in the Ashfield Municipality - 'Kata Tjuta'

There is a bright new mural near Ashfield station on the corner of Charlotte and Station Streets. As part of the ongoing Ashfield Council Graffiti Solutions Strategy, Council commissioned artist Robin Martin to paint an image that would clearly depict an Australian landscape.

In developing the design, artist Robin Martin was inspired by a visit that he had made to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park earlier in the year. The result is a bold impression of Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) with Uluru (Ayers Rock) in the background. In the foreground, a larger than life Perentie keeps watch while a Little Eagle flies overhead. The Perentie, Varanus giganteus, is the largest of the monitor lizards in Australia growing up to 2.5 metres long and the Little Eagle, Aquila morphnoides, is a very small eagle native to Australasia.

Martin said, "I have lived in Sydney since 1986 and was, at last able to visit the amazing desert area of Central Australia. Nothing prepared me for the awesome experience of walking around Uluru and through the Valley of the Winds at Kata Tjuta. Being in the presence of these beautifully shaped rocks of such immense size and age was a humbling and spiritual experience. In the mural I have attempted to show the vast distances you can see through the clear desert air. I'm looking forward to returning one day with more time - and art materials! "

Being highly visible to thousands of commuters each day either from the window of a passing train or a platform at the Ashfield Train Station, there is no doubt that this artwork will provide a pleasurable experience in the day of passers-by.

In a bid to deter graffiti and tagging of the work, the mural has been protected with an anti-graffiti coating. Hours of preparation went in to getting the wall ready to paint, and it is expected that the work will remain in good condition for up to ten years.

For more information about the mural program please phone Anthia Hart on 9716 1866.

See the list below for mural sites in the area.
 

Pictured murals by Robin Martin

Murals in Ashfield as at January 2009

1. Corner Thomas Street & Liverpool Road Ashfield
2. Corner Station & Charlotte Streets Ashfield. 
3. Corner 160 Liverpool Road & Queen Street Ashfield
4. Corner of Knox Street & Liverpool Road Ashfield
5. Corner Holden Street & Liverpool Road Ashfield
6. Corner Hercules Street and Drakes Lane Ashfield
7. Station Street Ashfield
8. Wood Street (near corner of Station Street) Ashfield
9. Rear of Thirning Villa, Pratten Park Ashfield
10. Corner of Alt & Elizabeth Streets (south side)
11. Corner of Alt & Elizabeth Streets (north side)
12. Corner of Curt & Chandos Streets Ashfield
13. Ashfield Library entrance-way Ashfield
14. Cooinda Room Level 2 Civic Centre Ashfield
15. The Esplanade Ashfield (this mural not completed by Council)
16. Corner Liverpool Road and Fox's Lane Ashfield
17. Fox's Lane Ashfield 18. Brown Street Pedestrian Underpass

Murals in Croydon as at January 2009

1. Corner 131 Croydon Road & John Street Croydon
2. 192 Elizabeth Street
3. Railway Wall Hennessey Street Croydon
4. 19 Georges River Road Croydon Park
5. 88 Edwin Street North Croydon
6. Corner Elizabeth and Edwin Street North (south side) Croydon
7. Corner Elizabeth and Edwin Street North (north side) Croydon
8. Corner Croydon Road & Laneway north of Elizabeth Street Croydon

Murals in Summer Hill as at January 2009

1.  Corner of Smith & Lackey Streets Summer Hill
2.  22 Grosvenor Crescent Summer Hill.
3.  Corner of Lorne & 37 Morris Streets Summer Hill
4.  Lackey Street near fountain Summer Hill
5.  Gower St. Reserve Summer Hill

Murals in Haberfield as at January 2009

1.  Corner of Kingston & Ramsay Streets Haberfield
2.  Concrete supports under the bridge at Iron Cove near City West Link Road
3.  City West Link Road (facing water, near UTS rowing Club)