Rose Garden Mural
Image source Taj Kempe
Artist: Margaret Kous
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2000
Location: Collie Replica Rail Station, Collie Rose Garden, 86 Throssell St
Provenance: Shire of Collie
Description: This mural is a combination of images blending Collie’s current and past histories.
Because of its proximity to the site of the old Collie Railway Station, the artist has used images of rail, past and present, to highlight the continuing importance of rail to the industrial and social history of this town.
The ‘Wagyal’ (serpent) emerging from Minninup Pool, reminds the observer of the ancient culture of the Noongar people, the original occupants of this area, and of the importance of the Collie and Harris Rivers, the waters of which are used for domestic and irrigation use over a larger area of WA.
In the distance can be seen the outlines of Muja and Collie Power Stations and the Worsley Alumina Refinery.
The vanishing point in the centre of the mural focuses attention on the future of Collie and the need for the whole community to continue to work together.
The mural artist, Mrs Margaret Kous, completed the project over a number of months through the participation of Fairview and Amaroo Year 6 & 7 primary school students, Claude Hill, Carl Kous and Christie Coomer.
Financial sponsors of the project were the Community Arts Network and the Collie Shire Council. Other contributors to the project include Dr Hilda Turnbull MLA, Collie Heritage Group, Collie Railway Station Group, Mr John Feeney, Collie Agricultural Society, Taubmans Paints and Townscape Advisory Committee members. This mural was an initiative of the Shire of Collie Townscape Committee
About the artist:
Margaret Kous was born in Mildura, Victoria in December 1949. Her parents took her to Auckland, New Zealand, in a flying boat in January 1950. In 1982, Margaret moved to Collie, Western Australia, with her husband Carl, where they raised a combined family of six children.
Collie Co-operative Society
Image source Taj Kampe
Artist: Ernie Turpin, Louise Turpin, Margaret Kous
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 1997
Location: 20 Johnston Street, Collie
Provenance: Shire of Collie
Description: This series of three murals tells the story of the Collie Co-operative Society, the largest co-operative store in Western Australia, in operation for over eighty years. In that time, it played an important role in the town’s development, as the principal retailer of the town and its largest commercial employer with over 100 people employed at its peak.
The building upon which this series of three murals is affixed was built by the Co-operative Society in 1936. By 1955, the Co-op has expanded to the corner diagonally opposite this site where the drapery, haberdashery and show departments were located. Further along, on the corner on Johnson and Lefroy Streets, was the Co-op Garage.
The left-hand panel depicts the original building and the 1926 flood. The Collie River proved to be a troublesome neighbour and the area was subjected to unpredictable flooding. The second picture of this inset shows the flood of 1926. Another memorable flood occurred in 1964, when the store was in undated and much stock lost to the swirling waters of the Collie River at its wildest.
The middle panel depicts ‘Divvy Day’, when shareholders were paid a percentage dividend on all purchases made and paid for in the last six months, was a twice yearly event. The Shareholders Booklet and the bread tokens were part and parcel of the old Co-op days.
The right-hand panel depicts Co-op delivery services, which were essential in the days before family cars, and woman drivers. A stable of delivery horses and wagons, followed as time went by, by bicycles, vans and finally the ‘shopper buses’ ensured that goods were delivered.
Financial sponsors of the project were the Shire of Collie, the Arts Council of WA and the Collie Heritage Group. This mural was an initiative of the Shire of Collie Townscape Committee.
About the artists:
Ernie Turpin is qualified in cartography and management and has spent a significant amount of time working and teaching in those areas. He has also had a wealth of experience in computerized mapping and art teaching.
Having resigned from the State Public Service at age fifty five to become a freelance artist, Ernie embarked upon a full time art tutoring career - whereby he travelled throughout the State of Western Australia as an ‘artist-in-residence‘ over a period of some twelve years.
In particular, Ernie worked primarily with indigenous groups in remote locations, completing mural projects and tutoring students in various forms of art. He also was regularly contracted to work with a number of mining companies, craft groups, hospitals, local authorities, prisons and metropolitan schools, etc., which required extensive travelling into some of the most scenic terrain of Western Australia.
Ernie is now in retirement, spends most of his leisure time in the Perth Metropolitan Area working in his studio or giving talks and art demonstrations to a range of different audiences.
Margaret Kous was born in Mildura, Victoria in December 1949. Her parents took her to Auckland, New Zealand, in a flying boat in January 1950. In 1982, Margaret moved to Collie, Western Australia, with her husband Carl, where they raised a combined family of six children.
Margaret studied art at Collie TAFE completing a Diploma in Art. She also studied at ECU Bunbury, completing a Bachelor of Creative Industries majoring in Visual Arts. She then completed a Diploma of Education Primary, teaching in in various schools prior to her retirement.
Knowledge is Power
Image source
Artist: Tahnee Kelland
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2019
Location: 82 Wittenoom St (Collie Public Library)
Provenance: Shire of Collie
Description: Knowledge is Power is a celebration of the power and beauty of books – the knowledge they bring and their ability to transport us to a different time and place. The joy and the magic are priceless.
About the artist:
Tahnee Kelland is painter and muralist, currently based in her hometown of Mandurah, Western Australia. Her murals can be found in and around Mandurah and Perth, Western Australia. Rounded in the subject of spiritual and inward growth, Tahnee’s ever evolving painting style sways between symbolism and folk art. Recurring motifs, flowers, foliage and the female form draw the viewer into a reflective and meditative state where balance and serenity are the ultimate reward.
Creating art since she can remember, Tahnee Kelland only began selling her artwork to the public in 2015 and was a finalist in the Frankie Magazine Good Stuff Award 2019. In 2020 her work was featured in Marie Claire and The West Australian’s STM magazine, and she was a feature artist for international brand Wetransfer. Tahnee has worked with Australian designer Camilla on their 15 year anniversary collection ‘Australia’ and other brands such as The Jungalow in LA and most recently Sydney jewellery designer, Midsummer Star. Tahnee is currently on maternity leave caring for her greatest creation yet.
We of the Bibbulmun
Image source
Artist: Tjyllyungoo (Lance Chadd)
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2020
Location: 22 Harvey St
Provenance: Shire of Collie
Description: “Ngarngungudditj Waargyl (the Bearded Python) created the estuary nurseries at Australind and formed the whole Collie River, including Brunswick and Preston Rivers, finally resting in Mininyup Pool. He is the spirit in all waters.
Culturally ‘Waargyl’ (Water Python) belongs to our Bibbulman people or you might say the Bibbulman people belong to Wargyl. He is all Law, both omnipotent and omnipresent, all knowing and all seeing. He is the creation spirit and both the punisher and rewarder.
In the old days Nyoongar people were law abiding people who lived in awe, fear and respect for ‘Waargyl’. ‘Waargylung’ is what we call punishment from Waargyl. There are many stories associated with Waargyl, like in the beginning when laws were created and given.
The Rainbow Serpent represents water and all the river systems and estuaries. Is both Male and Female. Waargyl is the giver of life and all totemic/Boorongur, governing lore of connection.” Tjyllyungoo/Lance Chadd
About the artist:
Lance Chadd, a Bibbulmun Nyoongar/Budimia Yamatji Aboriginal artist born in the South West town of Bunbury, works under his traditional tribal name ‘Tjyllyungoo’ (meaning, Elder Man/Wisdom/Law, given to him by his Father, Norman Chadd, a well-known Drover of Yamatji Country). His name and breathtaking work are known, recognised and respected throughout South Western Australian and International art circles, South Western Aboriginal communities, art curators and researchers on South Western Aboriginal Art and artists. He is known as one of the most senior and important Nyoongar artists alive.
Tjyllyungoo has painted professionally since 1981, and his paintings are in many collections worldwide and locally including the Art Gallery of Western Australia, Parliament House and the Berndt Museum Collection. His 3D sculptures and public artworks expressed throughout WA with career pinnacle sculpture WIRIN standing tall and strong in Yagan Square Perth CBD.
Tjyllyungoo is prolific in his mastery of depicting Australian landscapes, with constantly evolving work producing progressively more powerful collections, as he skilfully weaves the intangible Nyoongar spiritual beliefs and stories, through landforms, in paintings and in 3D Public artworks. These exquisite expressions allow easy access for the viewer to search and find understanding of Nyoongar culture and how the land and spirit of the people are inseparable. His peoples take pride in and are inspired by his work, remembering and maintaining their identity, strength of spirit and sense of belonging in their homeland Boodja.
Pit Pony
Image source Taj Kempe
Artist: Shakey (Jacob butler)
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2020
Location: 62 Forrest St
Provenance: Shire of collie
Description: After spending a day with the staff at the Coalfields Museum and Historical Research Centre, Shakey was inspired by local mining history and the stories of pit ponies once used in Collie’s coal mines. Referencing photographs sourced from the museum, Shakey has painted an imagined story of children running off with a pit pony to play miner for the day.
About the artist:
Shakey (Jacob Butler) is an artist based in Fremantle, Western Australia. Jacob works in many mediums including acrylics, oils, pastel and aerosol. Jacob’s essential tremor that existed from birth got him branded ‘Shakey’, giving him his unique, free-flowing, intuitive style. Jacob’s art career began on the wharf in 2013, where he experimented using paint and colour for the first time whilst decorating his workmate’s hard-hats. The demand for Jacob’s artwork grew fast as well as his passion and drive to paint bigger and better. Since becoming a full-time artist he has been invited to paint live in front of large audiences for private concerts, gala balls, weddings and large charity events internationally, with his paintings yielding very successful results due to the raw energy put into his work whilst under pressure. His recent painting for Telethon 2020, televised and painted over 10 hours, raised $25,000 for Telethon. Since 2018 Jacob has developed a very successful and exclusive live wedding portrait painting business, which sees him frequently travelling across the country to paint wedding portraits in the major cities. During the winter season, Jacob focuses his energies on large-scale murals across Western Australia and is currently working towards his second exhibition. His story has been featured in the West Australian, Channel 7’s Today Tonight, on radio and via an award winning short film, Shakey’s Story.
Collie-Cardiff RSL Tribute
Image source Taj Kempe
Artist: Shakey (Jacob Butler)
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2020
Location: 1 Lefroy St (Collie-Cardiff RSL)
Provenance: Shire of Collie
Description: “After meeting with the Collie-Cardiff RSL, visiting the Collie Local History Collection and the Coalfields Museum and Research Centre, and talking with other Collie locals, I was struck by the profound impact that war has had on the history of Collie. It’s been said that the town has sent more of its population to war (on a per capita basis) than any other community in Australia.
Instead of capturing the devastating side of war, I wanted to create an uplifting mural that focuses on camaraderie, mateship and the loyalty that each soldier has for one another. I chose the iconic game of two-up as the driver behind the mural – a game that was enjoyed before, during and after times of war, that links servicemen and women together.
The first scene in the mural depicts two-up being played during the different wars throughout history. Some of the portraits are of Collie servicemen, including VC winner Martin O’Meara as well as current RSL members.
The second scene is recreation of the RSLWA logo, modified in 1990 to include a sailor, soldier, airman and servicewoman. The portraits are of proud, happy servicemen and women including an Aboriginal infantryman, acknowledging Collie as the town that is believed to be the first place in Western Australia to acknowledge Aboriginal servicemen in a formal war memorial.
The remaining scenes include a portrait of Ron ‘Collie Boy’ Miffling sharing a photo of his wife and child with a fellow soldier. The depiction represents the act of sharing and storytelling, as well as the sacrifice that servicemen and women make by leaving their loved ones behind. Also among the portraits is a depiction of Martin O'Meara VC, who rescued up to 25 soldiers from no-man's land, a representation of the importance of never leaving your fellow soldier behind – both during and after the war.” Shakey (Jacob Butler)
About the artist:
Jacob Butler (Shakey) is a young, self-taught artist based in Fremantle. Jacob works in many mediums including acrylics, oils, pastel and aerosol. Jacob’s essential tremor that existed from birth got him branded ‘Shakey’, giving him his unique, free-flowing, intuitive style. Since becoming a full-time artist he has been invited to paint live in front of large audiences for private concerts, gala balls, weddings and large charity events internationally, with his paintings yielding very successful results due to the raw energy put into his work whilst under pressure. He is currently working on large scale murals and performing live wedding art in and around Australia. Between commissions he also continues his art workshops for people with disabilities and is working towards his second exhibition.
Hit the Trails
Image source Taj Kempe
Artist: Sioux Tempestt
Asset Type: Street Art
Year of Work: 2020
Location: Collie Visitor Centre, 156 Throssell St
Provenance: Shire of Collie
Description: This contemporary artwork encourages involvement, interaction and imagination, offering viewers an intangible and emotional experience. The site specific narrative aims to connect with visitors to stimulate investigation.
The ground level artwork is interactive, inviting visitors on a journey of discovery linking directly with elements found in the local Collie area including the kangaroo paw, the spider orchid, wattle flowers, banksia, karri tree flower and local water bodies. The colours are derived from the earthen colours of the land, local flora and natural bush land, plus the turquoise of the nearby lakes. The overlaying lines replicate nature’s energy and are symbolic of the many trails throughout Collie. Filled with energy and excitement, the mural offers a vibrant welcome to the town and the Visitor Centre.
About the artist:
In addition to studio-based works, Sioux’s practice employs a multi-disciplinary approach, generating mural, public, sculptural and digital art which meaningfully contributes to its context. Sioux enjoys pushing the boundaries of her practice by traversing across different mediums and scale of works. She produces public artworks with site specific narrative connecting with community to create a sense of place. Her work fuses colour and form through contemporary, thought provoking abstracted shapes and patterns. Sioux’s studio paintings intuitively fuse colour and form to investigate the integration of abstract expressionism within different environments. Her work is held in the Ronald McDonald House and City of South Perth collections.
Untitled
Image source Philip Hanson
Artist: Philip Hanson
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 1997
Location: Baarnimar Reconciliation Park, Throssel St
Provenance: Shire of Collie
Description: Philip Hansen, Noongar artist, was born at Katanning, Western Australia, in 1950. He spent his early childhood with his parents at the Carrolup Native Settlement near Katanning and was taken to Wandering Mission (also known as the St Francis Xavier Mission) when he was nine years old. After he left the mission in his early teens, he went to South Guildford, just to the east of Perth, to be with his mother, Marjorie Hansen. There he would sit with his mother and other older community members at Allawah Grove, which was situated close to the Swan River and full of wildlife, while they created paperbark paintings with Indian ink to be sold in shops around the town. Hansen started painting with them when he was fourteen; he was also inspired by an old Aboriginal artist from Perth called King Wally, who admired his style and gave him encouragement at this early stage. From that point on he created landscapes containing Aboriginal people and kangaroos on paperbark and canvas. His artistic practice became more established after he met his wife in Perth, and the sale of his paintings kept their young family going financially.
Hansen and his wife (married in 1971) lived together in Perth for several years before deciding to return to the southwest region of Western Australia, where they’d grown up, to make a home in Collie. Together they have six children and seventeen grandchildren, and have now been married for 50 years. Hansen has described the way he painted in a shed out the back of his property, and enjoyed teaching painting and drawing techniques to his grandchildren.
Hansen’s work has been acquired by the Collie Shire Council and the Shire of Busselton. Collie Hospital has also commissioned a number of works. Hunting by Sunset (2004), is held in the Curtin University of Technology Art Collection. This painting was acquired by Larry Foley from an exhibition of Indigenous artists from the southwest of Western Australia that Foley helped to organise at the Tom Hoad Cup (an international water polo competition) at the Melville Water Polo Club in Bicton, Western Australia. Foley donated it to the Curtin University of Technology Art Collection in 2005. The work was included in the 'Noongar Native Title: Works from the Curtin University of Technology Art Collection’ exhibition at the gallery in 2007. Hansen’s work was also included in the 'Beyond Carrolup’ exhibition at the Central TAFE Art Gallery in Perth (2009).
Untitled
Image source Taj Kempe
Artist: Phil Goatcher
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 1922
Location: All Saints Church, 46 Venn St W (inside)
Provenance: Shire of Collie
Description: This mural painted by Phil Goatcher (1852-1931) in 1922, at the age of 70, took eight months to complete at a cost of 500 pounds.
The mural contains thirty individuals, ten of which are taken from history and town local dignitaries of the time. It is 11m long, 2.45m high and was painted on a canvas in the artist’s Perth studio, before being secured to the wall of the apse. The painting embodies two ideas – that of the Communion of Saints, and that expressed by the text, “Come unto me all ye that Labour”. The mural is considered to be the most outstanding of Goatcher’s work.
The mural had extensive restoration carried out in 1996, by Mrs Barbara Cena, who worked 12 hour shifts with her helpers to complete the restoration in six weeks.
Access: by appointment through the Collie Visitor Centre or Sunday service from 9am
Black Diamond
Image source Shire of Collie
Artist: Natalie Veal
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2020
Location: 101 Throssell St
Provenance: Shire of Collie
Description: Black Diamond, by local artist Natalie Veal, depicts one of her favourite places, a beautiful spring-fed swimming area – Black Diamond Lake. This lake was once an open pit mine, and is now a picturesque recreational place of tranquillity and fun.
About the artist:
Born in 1967, Natalie considers at least 50 years of her life to have been filled extraordinarily with art in some form, drawing and painting on everything with anything from a very young age. Natalie drew her first lifelike portrait of her Great-Grandfather at the age of eleven, and painted her first portrait in oils of little sister Chantelle not long after. Throughout Natalie’s life, art has been a comfort, an inspiration, a communicator and a wonderful form of expression.
The Bones of Collie
Image source Taj Kempe
Artist: Marina Lommerse, Michael Phillips
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2020
Location: 143 & 127 Throssell St
Provenance: Shire of Collie
Description: “A sixth-generation Collie resident described Collie’s industrial history as, ‘the bones of this town’. The Collie township originated as a mining town with its post-colonial heritage steeped in coal mining, forestry, and railways.
The industry and natural resources are interrelated. Timber was required to house the settlers, build the railways, feed the steam engines, and structure the underground coal tunnels. The rail was essential to bring in settlers and supplies, to carry coal out of the mines and get the coal to market. The whole township of Collie is riddled by underground tunnels. Tunnels under the river, the highway, the cemetery, and the houses and commercial buildings.
Over the 65-meter long gradient of this mural, colours reflect Collie’s lakes, river, sky, forest, wildflowers and bushland. Overlaid are ‘short stories’ (the mural is only 50 cm high) of legs, tools, implements, underground coal tunnel maps, wildflowers and corellas hint at the early life and times in the timber, rail & coal industries.
The images have been abstracted from archival photographs and drawings that can be viewed in the Coalfields Museum and Historical Research Centre. It includes species endemic to the region — the Western Corella and wildflowers.” Marina Lommerse and Michael Phillips
The mural was researched, conceived, developed and then painted through a collaborative process facilitated by Michael and Marina. Michael and Marina kickstarted Mural Studio in 2020 to collaboratively undertake a mural painting process while also offering educational and social opportunities.
The Mural Studio team was made up of local Collie residents, architecture and interior architecture students and graduates, and our friends and family.
About the artists:
Marina Lommerse is a visual artist. She has exhibited, created public artworks, and lead community-based art projects in Australia and overseas. Her work has been funded by national and state arts and culture organisations, and city councils. Formerly a professor at Curtin University she was a Finalist, Australian Awards for University Teaching.
Michael Phillips is a mural artist, designer and educator. In 2014 Michael cofounded Ateliervivo – a program in Brazil that offers educational experiences through participants designing and building projects for local communities. One workshop, MuralStudio explores how murals can be collaboratively and efficiently created to improve public spaces. Michael also teaches architecture at Curtin University.
Local stories and archival research: Tom Reardon, Tania Roberts, Nola Green Mural Studio Artist team: Clifford Scanlan, James Russell, Jack Holmes, Camilo Idarraga, Joy Marshall, Danielle Marinho, Rose Phillips
Collie community collaborators: Alison Melvin, Stephen Melvin, Ellen Corbin, Rachael Williams, Thamarat Phokai, Ash Briggs, Tania Roberts
The Girl in the Shop Window
Image source Taj Kempe
Artist: Marina Lommerse, Michael Phillips
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2020
Location: 72 Forrest St
Provenance: Shire of Collie
Description: “Collie residents remember the events that entertained them in shop windows as much as the goods on display. The scene depicted in the mural was inspired by archival research and conversations with long-term locals.
One intriguing story was the travelling hypnotist who put people to sleep and then displayed them in a shop window – selling tickets for the public to view.
Black and white TVs were introduced to Collie in the 1950s. Townspeople crowded around shop windows for a good possie. We set the scene with mid-century modern furniture and Manchester goods on display, in a black and white world of early television.
What is that bird in the crowd? Is it an emu? Is it a swan? It is, in fact, a man in a swan costume and was inspired by a photo we discovered in the Coalfields Museum.
During the painting process local Aboriginal Elder, James Kahn, requested we incorporate an image. See if you can find it.” Marina Lommerse and Michael Phillips
The mural was researched, conceived, developed and then painted through a collaborative process facilitated by Michael and Marina.
Michael and Marina kickstarted Mural Studio in 2020 to collaboratively undertake a mural painting process while also offering educational and social opportunities. The Mural Studio team was made up of a temporary Collie resident, architecture and interior architecture students and graduates, and our friends and family.
About the artists:
Marina Lommerse is a visual artist. She has exhibited, created public artworks, and lead community-based art projects in Australia and overseas. Her work has been funded by national and state arts and culture organisations, and city councils. Formerly a professor at Curtin University she was a Finalist, Australian Awards for University Teaching.
Michael Phillips is a mural artist, designer and educator. In 2014 Michael cofounded Ateliervivo – a program in Brazil that offers educational experiences through participants designing and building projects for local communities. One workshop, MuralStudio explores how murals can be collaboratively and efficiently created to improve public spaces. Michael also teaches architecture at Curtin University.
Local stories and archival research: Yvonne Hammond, Gloria Mathews, Margaret Bates, Tom Reardon, Tania Roberts, Alison Melvin, Nola Green, James Kahn Mural Studio
Artist team: Clifford Scanlan, Jack Holmes, Robyn Duncan
Collie community collaborator: Thamarat Phokai
River Lines
Image source Taj Kempe
Artist: Mikaela Miller
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2020
Location: Pump house, corner of Crampton St and Steere St S
Provenance: Shire of Collie
Description: “River Lines speaks to the history and evolution of the stretch of Collie River that neighbours the Crampton St Pump House site, inspired by conversations with locals, news clippings from the 1964 Collie River flood, and research into the river’s ecology and management plans.
The story flows in three parts across the painted faces of the building, in a reflection of changing water levels and river health. It begins with the pre-European river environment; clear waters, prolific boronia and thriving jarrah forest. This is followed by a decline in water quality and fauna numbers as altered water flow and invasive species, such as nardoo weed, leave their impact. Then, the recovery begins and species such as gilgie return to healthier population numbers, and wildflowers like the Collie Grevillea can be nurtured and celebrated, as a balance is found between the natural and manufactured systems of the Collie River Valley.
This is the river’s journey in navigating competing recreational, commercial, cultural and ecological demands and thresholds, but it reflects much of Collie’s broader narrative and exists at a time where the town finds itself entering into a new chapter of its story. The scientific name for the Collie Grevillea, is Grevillea ripicola – where ‘ripicola’ roughly means ‘living by the bank of the river’.
I think this moment in time is a great opportunity for Collie to question what it means to live by the bank of the river, and to shape and champion what the privilege and responsibility of this lifestyle looks like.” Mikaela Miller
About the artist:
Mikaela Miller is young Western Australian artist living in Walyallup/ Fremantle. Having trained in both design and community development, she works predominantly as a public artist, print maker and as an arts facilitator - running workshops and coordinating community art projects.
Mikaela's work typically features native flora. She is fascinated by the variety and distribution of species around Australia, and the world. Her practice explores how endemic flowers can be both a complex and highly accessible subject matter to encourage viewers to consider place, identity and their relationship to the natural environment. These bright florals and her unique command of line, illustrating form and texture, can be found across metro and regional WA.
Her fascination with florals stem from her childhood - witnessing how her Grandfather’s prize-winning garden impacted the wider community and permeated simple human interactions. She learned how nature can enable generosity, joy, and connection. Her dedication to investigating species specific to each work’s locale is her way of understanding a place. In part, it reveals the character and vibrancy of that area. In part it can also help to unpack both the colonial and pre-colonial narratives there. Her innate curiosity, and passion for sustainability compel her to explore a place not only for what it is now, but also for what it once was, and what it could be (or could have been).
Mikaela has painted a variety of private commissions; large scale public works for local councils, developments and festivals; and coordinated a string of community murals - either working closely with youth and school groups or creatively engaging the broader community. Her studio works have been exhibited in solo and group shows around Perth & Fremantle.
Timber Workers
Image source Jacob Butler
Artist: Shakey (Jacob Butler)
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2021
Location: 75 Throssell St (Mineworkers Institute)
Provenance: Shire of Collie
Description: This mural is a tribute to the Collie timber industry workers who worked on both the railways and in the underground mines throughout Collie’s early history. The artwork is based on historical imagery of workers, known as broad-axe super cutters, from the early 1900s.
About the artist:
Shakey (Jacob Butler) is an artist based in Fremantle, Western Australia. Jacob works in many mediums including acrylics, oils, pastel and aerosol. Jacob’s essential tremor that existed from birth got him branded ‘Shakey’, giving him his unique, free-flowing, intuitive style. Jacob’s art career began on the wharf in 2013, where he experimented using paint and colour for the first time whilst decorating his workmate’s hard-hats. The demand for Jacob’s artwork grew fast as well as his passion and drive to paint bigger and better. Since becoming a full-time artist he has been invited to paint live in front of large audiences for private concerts, gala balls, weddings and large charity events internationally, with his paintings yielding very successful results due to the raw energy put into his work whilst under pressure. His recent painting for Telethon 2020, televised and painted over 10 hours, raised $25,000 for Telethon. Since 2018 Jacob has developed a very successful and exclusive live wedding portrait painting business, which sees him frequently travelling across the country to paint wedding portraits in the major cities. During the winter season, Jacob focuses his energies on large-scale murals across Western Australia and is currently working towards his second exhibition. His story has been featured in the West Australian, Channel 7’s Today Tonight, on radio and via an award winning short film, Shakey’s Story.
Kwobidak Koondarm
Image source Jacob Butler
Artist: Shakey (Jacob Butler), with guidance from Joe Northover
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2022
Location: Collie Senior High School, 76 Wittenoom St
Provenance: Shire of Collie
Description: “Kwobidak koondarm, means beautiful dreams. This is the name given to this mural by Bianca and Ijah Coyle, the parents of the three sisters who are painted in this mural.
My intention was to paint a mural for the younger generation of Collie that reflects setting out on your own journey in life but doing it with pride and always having your culture and your traditions close to your heart.
Under the guidance and consultation with local Elder, Joe Northover, we were given the opportunity to meet and collaborate with a young family in Collie and capture three beautiful sisters at Minninup Pool, a sacred place and resting place of the Ngangungudditj Walgu.
Thank you Joe Northover, Bianca, Ijah and your family for collaborating with us and everyone who helped make this mural come to life.” Shakey (Jacob Butler)
About the artist:
Shakey (Jacob Butler) is an artist based in Fremantle, Western Australia. Jacob works in many mediums including acrylics, oils, pastel and aerosol. Jacob’s essential tremor that existed from birth got him branded ‘Shakey’, giving him his unique, free-flowing, intuitive style. Jacob’s art career began on the wharf in 2013, where he experimented using paint and colour for the first time whilst decorating his workmate’s hard-hats. The demand for Jacob’s artwork grew fast as well as his passion and drive to paint bigger and better. Since becoming a full-time artist he has been invited to paint live in front of large audiences for private concerts, gala balls, weddings and large charity events internationally, with his paintings yielding very successful results due to the raw energy put into his work whilst under pressure. His recent painting for Telethon 2020, televised and painted over 10 hours, raised $25,000 for Telethon. Since 2018 Jacob has developed a very successful and exclusive live wedding portrait painting business, which sees him frequently travelling across the country to paint wedding portraits in the major cities. During the winter season, Jacob focuses his energies on large-scale murals across Western Australia and is currently working towards his second exhibition. His story has been featured in the West Australian, Channel 7’s Today Tonight, on radio and via an award winning short film, Shakey’s Story.
The Sun and the Moon — the Moon and the Sun
Image source Taj Kempe
Artist: Kyle Hughes-Odgers
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2020
Location: 44 Johnston St, Collie
Provenance: Shire of Collie
Description: The Sun and the Moon – the Moon and the Sun is an abstract artwork made up of six individual portrait panels. The images move in colour from warms to cool, tracking the movement of the day into night.
About the artist:
Kyle Hughes-Odgers (b.1981) is a multi-disciplinary Australian Visual Artist who works locally and globally on art projects across various formats - Murals, Gallery Exhibitions and 3D installations. His work explores colour theory, abstraction and narrative - Inspired by nature, the built environment and human behaviour. He has been exhibiting his work since 2005 including solo exhibitions in Perth, Melbourne, Berlin, Amsterdam, Madrid, Los Angeles and Vienna. His work is held in numerous private and public collections worldwide. In addition to his exhibition works, Kyle has created large scale murals in New York City, Washington DC, Los Angeles, London, Singapore, Madrid, Berlin, Cambodia, Iceland and across Australia.
Open Road
Image source
Artist: Luke O'Donohoe
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2020
Location: Cnr Burt St & Throssell St (on Burt St)
Provenance: Shire of Collie
Description: “My text-based artwork aims to celebrate the town of Collie in an authentic and captivating way. Drawing from the artistic style of Rosalie Gascoigne, and her famous assemblages of found road signs, I have selected words that give voice to significant parts of Collie’s history, and collaged them across the wall. Words were also chosen that possessed a certain poetic energy and nostalgic quality.” Luke O’Donohoe
About the artist:
Luke O’Donohoe is a Western Australian artist centring his practice on murals and public art. He has developed a recognizable artistic language expressed through a typography, graphic abstract compositions and gestural figurative painting. Luke endeavours to paint with authenticity, and uniquely give voice to important stories, characteristics or events of the place he is painting.
Creatures of the Night
Image source Taj Kempe
Artist: Jerome Davenport (Ketones6000)
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2020
Location: Collie Sound Bowl, Collie Central Park
Provenance: Shire of Collie
Description: The mural concept revolves around the rush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa), also known by as the common wambenger, the black-tailed mousesack or the black-tailed phascogale
About the artist:
Jerome Davenport a.k.a. ‘Ketones6000’, is an Australian aerosol artist breathing new life into the world of modern art. His work is blurring the lines between graffiti, muralism and natural elements with incredible colour and percussion that resonates around the world. Named as an award winner in Australia’s eminent ‘Black Swan Portrait Awards’, Jerome has been leaving his artistic mark around the world, setting up shop in London throughout 2017/18/19, where he has been painting for numerous street art festivals around Europe and North America Including Blackburn’s ‘Open Walls’ Loures Public Street Art Festival, in Portugal, UpFest Bristol, Nelson international Mural festival Canada and ArtsWells Canada. Jerome is an artist for artists, he continually runs workshops and programs associated with giving up and comers a chance to develop as artists.
Jax’s vision
Image source Taj Kempe
Artist: Karen Sewell, collaborator Tegan Sewell
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2019
Location: Cnr Johnston Street & Atkinson St (Jax Diner)
Provenance: Shire of Collie
Description: This mural expresses the natural landscapes around Collie, as well as the coal and rail industries that have been an important part of the town. The black section at the bottom symbolises the coal industry that has built the town and the round house is included at the top to represent the future of tourism.
Golden Crust Bakery
Image source Taj Kempe
Artist: Jarred Martyn
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2020
Location: 86 Steere St N
Provenance: Shire of Collie
Description: This mural depicts a horse pulling a cart belonging to the Golden Crust Bakery, which delivered bread and milk to the people of Collie until the 1950s when the carts were replaced by cars. Large draft horses were used to pull the carts, similar to the pit ponies which were used in the Collie mines.
It’s said that the horse was so familiar with the delivery route that it would continue on as the driver walked to deliver the bread, as depicted by the figure in the background of the scene. In addition, sizable horse stables once occupied the whole of nearby Johnston Street, from Steere to Lefroy Street.
About the artist:
Jarrad Martyn's practice explores how different moments in history have been framed and how we engage with spaces after they have become abandoned. Through painting and installation Martyn employs the principles of bricolage – something constructed from a diverse range of things – to bring together imagery and research to create a more conversational meaning of the history being explored. The use of paint which slips in-between figuration and expressionism encourages the audience to look longer to try and deduce what is unfolding and to ultimately consider how complicit they are prepared to be in that framing.
