A quick weekend away to have a look at the Wellington Dam wall mural as it is being painted and to see the new (and existing) murals in Collie. The new ones are part of the Collie Mural Trail that starts with the Wellie Dam wall mural. The original map is available here. The photos below are captioned with the number on the map in 2020. Also a few thoughts from me in each caption …
Click on the first photo in each gallery to enlarge them and scroll through (if you are on a ‘phone, turn it landscape).
Number 1 from above. There are two people there painting.Zoomed in a bit on the artist. It’s a long way up and there is a lot left to paint.Number 1. Zoomed in on the artist.Number 2, at Wellie Dam. It is painted on a shade shelter overlooking the dam.More of number 2.Number 1 and 2 in the same photo.A small part of the dam wall. What I really like is the way the mural colours match the colours of the rocks at the base of the dam.More from the base of the dam wall.A panorama of the dam wall from the base.Number 3, the first pump house. This is also the first red claw and the site of our picnic the first time we were in Collie.The other side of number 3.Number 4. One of the red claws, a fresh water yabbi, like a lobster or shellfish. I quite like this but it would be good to see the whole thing in full sunlight. It’s really big.Part of number 5. It’s all painted on the ground at the information centre.Number 6 in its entirety.A small part of number 6. I like kangaroo paws (the plant) and magpies (the bird, called kulbardi in local language).Another part of number 6. Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree.Number 7. I love black cockatoos.The black cockie got Mambo Mans hat!All of number 8. Apparently each person is a real person who was from Collie in World War 1. One of my favourite murals. Also the favourite of the volunteer at the railway museum.Old mate flipping the 2 up coin. It’s part of number 8.This is part of number 8. The 4 services, army, navy, airforce and nurses. Nurses are often left out. This is on the wall of the RSL.Number 8 “Have I shown you the picture of my wife and daughter?”Number 8 again. Carrying the wounded off the battle field.Part of number 8. Despite its size there is detail in the features of the life size people.One of two at number 9. I think it’s about transportation over time …The other part of number 9.One of two at number 10.Part two of number 10.Number 11.Number 12. Initially I was scathing of this but then I stood back and had a look. It rapidly became my favourite. There are pictures in the picture. As you can see, it is massive.A numbat within number 12Number 13. In my top 3. I like the picture within the picture. You can see it better in the other picture of this mural. By the way, for non Australians this is a goanna or a perenti.Can you see the picture within the picture of number 13Number 14. It took us a while to find this, despite it’s size!Our least favourite, number 15.Number 16, the second pump house.
Of course the dam wall got finished and we had to go back and see it. I also got some awesome drone footage. There were a few more murals in town by then too.
Number 9Part of number 13
We found out during our trip to Wellie Dam in October 2022 that there are new murals on the trail and they have been added toa new map available here. Here are some of them and their allocated number, according to the new map.
Number 7 in reconciliation park. Part of number 8 … … more of number 8. Number 11Number 20Number 30, inside the Goods ShedNumber 34Number 35 @ the library. One for The DrummerNumber 37. I LOVE this mural. It’s called Kwobidak koondarm which means beautiful dreams, named by the parents of the three sisters painted in the mural.Number 38Number 40. Mr P’s new favouriteNumber 41. The detail in his face is only visible through the camera lensNumber 42 represents the Ngangungudditj Walgu (hairy faced snake) who is the creator of the pools and waterways around Collie … .. . appropriately adorning the steps of the community swimming pool
There are a few other pre-existing murals and paintings around town, some of which have been added to the 2022 map. Where I know anything about them, I have added a caption.
This one is 20 years old, at the old railway station.This is by the same artist that did the RSL mural.Now number 11, A love letterI think these 3 are number 21 … …Number 21 …… number 21.On the wall at the High School
The Solo Avocado 