Wooditjup!
Image source Margaret River Art Trails
Artist: Ian Mutch
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2020
Location: Margaret River Main Street
Provenance: Shire of Augusta Margaret River
Description: Wooditjup is the traditional placename of Margaret River in Wadandi-Noongar culture and tells the story of the magic man Wooditch, the ancestor who created the river, Bilya. The Wooditjup Bilya is such a lifeforce and integral to the biodiversity of this area, for every raindrop is lifeblood to this land.
This collaborative mural celebrates the vibrant nature, culture, and community that draws us to the heart of Margaret River town.
Ian Mutch’s joyous characters are painted to represent everyone, celebrating diversity and unified respect for Wooditjup.
Stu McMillan’s addition draws on the native forest, bush and meandering river as it winds through paddocks, scrub, eucalypts and ancient granite gullies to the sea.
Jake Quodling riffed on Ian’s colour palette to write the place name, aiming for a simple illustration that would resonate with locals.
Wanda the Whale
Image source Margaret River Art Trails
Artist: Cara Sanders
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2019
Location: Margaret River Main Street
Provenance: Shire of Augusta Margaret River
Description: The Margaret River region has the longest whale watching season in the world – southern right whales spend winter in Flinders Bay, Augusta, and 35,000 humpback whales and pygmy blues pass the coast each spring.
Wanda is inspired by the migrating whales that swim through our pristine waters. Try out the Augmented Reality to see if she really does swim – let Wanda fill the camera frame on your smart phone to activate the AR.
In 2019 Cara Sanders began her own migration, a 22,000km journey around Australia, and painted Wanda while visiting the region. Embellished with natural wonders such as a blue wren, dolphins and waves, the shadow effect makes it feel as if Wanda is swimming the streets with you.
Wave Wall
Image source Margaret River Art Trails
Artist: Kashmir Rouw
Asset Type: Sculpture
Year of Work: 2004
Location: Surfers Point, Prevelly
Provenance: Shire of Augusta Margaret River
Description: Intersecting two iconic coastal spots – the River Mouth and Mainbreak – Wave Wall symbolises a place of community, where many seek to connect, conquer and achieve their surfing nirvana, or to simply soak up the natural beauty of the region.
Inspired by the ocean and carved from local limestone, this bold piece marks the entry to Surfers Point.
It explores the concept of cantilevered stones protruding in three directions to form the fluid curves of a wave or perhaps the bow of a boat.
Funded by the Shire of Augusta Margaret River
Spiral Shelter
Image source Margaret River Art Trails
Artist: Kashmire Rouw
Asset Type: Architectural sculpture, Public amenity
Year of Work: 2013
Location: Surfers Point, Prevelly
Provenance: Shire of Augusta Margaret River
Description: Enjoy a quiet moment of reflection and connection, breathing in the salty air and admiring the ocean’s awesome power.
Modelled on the mirabilis shell, the spiralling formation highlights the geomorphological processes that have formed the coastline along the region.
Waves and westerly winds blew beach sand, broken seashells and corals into huge sand dunes, over time forming the limestone of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge on top of the granite substrate.
Ripple and Swell
Image source Margaret River Art Trails
Artist: Ian Dowling
Asset Type: Architectural sculpture
Year of Work: 2013
Location: Surfers Point, Prevelly
Provenance: Shire of Augusta Margaret River
Description: The ocean makes such mesmerising patterns – ripples in sand and the refraction of light through shallow water.
These complex patterns and textures are captured in an abstract interpretation of ocean ripples as waves or swells reflect off reefs and the shorelines of curved bays.
River Mouth Lookout Mural
Image source Margaret River Art Trails
Artist: Rebecca Cool, Margaret River Youth Advisory Council
Asset Type: Mural, Community collaboration
Year of Work: 2013
Location: Cape to Cape Track, near the River Mouth
Provenance: Shire of Augusta Margaret River
Description: There’s a sculptural quality to the landscape here – weathered limestone and shapely dunes meet curves in the waterway, sandbanks expand and contract as the river spills into the ocean.
Perched atop the hill overlooking the river, ocean and surf, this water tank has one of the most spectacular views in the region.
Adorned with a colourful mural celebrating 12 important themes, it was painted in a collaboration between local artist Rebecca Cool and members of the Margaret River Youth Advisory Council.
Layla
Image source Margaret River Art Trails
Artist: Russell Sheridan
Asset Type: Sculpture, Metalwork
Year of Work: 2013
Location: River Mouth, Prevelly
Provenance: Shire of Augusta Margaret River
Description: Layla the great granddaughter of surf god Huey cares for all sea creatures and watches over those who enter the water.
Layla swims the seas of the world and from time to time redirects lost surfers who have been pummelled into the depths below by large waves.
Surfers finding themselves alone, helpless, lost in bubbles and turbulence have been steered to the surface by Layla for one more breath of life.
Shred Til Ya Dead
Image source Margaret River Art Trails
Artist: Gabe Heussenstamm
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2021
Location: Sessions Surf Shop
Provenance: Shire of Augasta Margaret River
Description: Surfing is a way of life – an obsession – and this cheeky mural celebrates those of us addicted to the thrill.
Our world-famous waves have lured many a surfer from around the globe, plenty of them staying and making the region home.
Margaret River has a great surf culture too, with young groms encouraged to chase the healthy high that comes from catching waves.
Give and Take
Image source Margaret River Art Trails
Artist: Ian Mutch, Kyle Hughes-Odgers
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2013
Location: Margaret River Main Street, near Visitor Centre
Provenance: Shire of Augusta Margaret River
Description: In a place where much of our leisure time is spent in and around the river and ocean, this artwork celebrates the relationship we have with our environment. Created using outdoor acrylic, aerosol and markers, it is a narrative based artwork portraying nature’s life cycle and the gift of water.
Art lovers will recognise the artist’s distinctive styles; Ian Mutch’s playful characters and Kyle Hughes-Odgers’ geometric figures. This brightly painted mural is on the wall between IGA and the Margaret River Visitor Centre.
Hold up your phone to activate AR mode and see the artwork come to life in an unexpected and playful way. Turn up the volume for the full experience!
Image source Shire of Augusta Margaret River
Montessori School Tree Mural
Image source Margaret River Art Trails
Artist: Children of the Montessori School
Asset Type: Mural, Community collaboration
Year of Work: Unknown
Location: Car park behind IGA
Provenance: Shire of Augusta Margaret River
Description: An earnest painting of the values that underpin our friendships; trust, kindness, courage, patience and more.
Using a grandfather tree as a foundation for these lessons, the children of the Montessori school created a heartfelt reminder of what we can all strive for.
Dolphin Mural
Image source Margaret River Art Trails
Artist: Marie Williams, Koora Kel-Archie Paandi, Wadandi elders, Local young people
Asset Type: Mural, Community collaboration
Year of Work: Unknown
Location: Car park behind IGA
Provenance: Shire of Augusta Margaret River
Description: This mural was developed by Marie Williams and Koora Kel-Archie Paandi working with local young people, Wadandi elders to create the Dolphin story mural.
Coming Home
Image source Margaret River Art Trails
Artist: Running Wolves (Kerry Brooks, Leah Pizconeri)
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2021
Location: Laneway behind Cotton On
Provenance: Shire of Augusta Margaret River
Description: Inspired by natural elements and rich biodiversity, the artists aim to share a positive message about enjoying the land.
They invite you to reflect on how you enjoy this bountiful region we all love so deeply, and the calmness, tranquility and ease experienced while in the region.
It is hoped to be a beacon of positivity for the beautiful Margaret River region.
Blue Birds
Image source Margaret River Art Trails
Artist: Jack Bromell
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2017
Location: Laneway behind butcher shop
Provenance: Shire of Augusta Margaret River
Description: Inspired by watching magpies eat scraps of meat left out by the local butcher, Blue Birds tells the story of curiosity, kindness and friendship between a young boy and a magpie.
Magpies are social animals and often enjoy interacting with humans, a dynamic beautifully rendered in this mural.
Painted as part of the 2017 Emergence Creative Festival.
Farmer with Cattle Dog
Image source Margaret River Art Trails
Artist: Hope Perth
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2020
Location: Fearn Ave, Festival Precinct
Provenance: Shire of Augusta Margaret River
Description: Another figurative piece by the same artist as Border Collie, this mural recognises the region’s farming community, the relationships they have with their working dogs and the significance of women within the farming industry.
Holding a bowl of freshly plucked olives, she gazes across at Riversmith Café with its beautiful olive trees growing in their alfresco.
Relax on Fearn Avenue with a coffee, watch shoppers stroll by and enjoy the art and streetscape.
Border Collie
Image source Margaret River Art Trails
Artist: Hope Perth
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2021
Location: Sugarman
Provenance: Shire of Augusta Margaret River
Description: The beloved Border Collie mural pays tribute to the intelligence and beauty of the Australian working dog and is testament to the community’s love for animals.
Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this lifelike painting captures the essence of the Border Collie’s grace and loyalty. Set against sunset and a vast open space, it speaks to the hearts of dog lovers and art enthusiasts alike.
Skull and Bones
Image source Margaret River Art Trails
Artist: Tim Howe
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: Unknown
Location: Margaret River Main Street
Provenance: Shire of Augusta Margaret River
Description: An eerie gaze from a lifeless skull, a nod to Dutch and Leeuwin seafarers who charted this coast, or the creative sketching of a local tattoo artist? Check out Skull and Bones and you be the judge.
Take it next level and see what happens with the Augmented Reality experience.
African Proverb
Image source Margaret River Art Trails
Artist: Andrew Frazer
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: Unknown
Location: Margaret River Main Street
Provenance: Shire of Augusta Margaret River
Description: “If you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far go together.” – African proverb.
While it’s fun to go fast for a while, to cover plenty of ground, one simply can’t go far without people to support you.
Part of the charm of Margaret River life is being part of a generous community, to be cheered on by colleagues and neighbours.
We’re also fortunate to have creative, forward-thinking people to get behind, and together we can keep working to protect our biodiversity, water ways and native animals.
The Balancing Act
Image source Margaret River Art Trails
Artist: Chris Nixon, Andrew Frazer
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2016
Location: Margaret River Main Street
Provenance: Shire of Augusta Margaret River
Description: The intricate mural speaks to the harmony when a balance is found between two varied approaches to the same situation.
It is the ability to find common ground when opposition is the perceived outcome.
Balancing Act was painted during the Emergence Festival Creative Crawl, an exciting annual event that brings together professionals from creative industries such as film, advertising, music and visual arts.
Wadandi Boodjarra
Image source Margaret River Art Trails
Artist: Sandra Hill, Ian Mutch, Jack Bromell
Asset Type: Mural
Year of Work: 2020
Location: Margaret River Main Street
Provenance: Shire of Augusta Margaret River
Description: Wadandi Boodjarra pays homage to the Traditional Custodians of the southwest, the Wadandi First Nations people. It depicts Wadandi home country, local flora and iconic forest red-tailed black cockatoos, and celebrates ongoing connection to earth, sky, ocean, rivers and bloodlines of generations past, present and future.
Ian Mutch has drawn on his expertise in painting photo-realistic birds to create the forest red-tails. These are native to the southwest and provide a sense of place, belonging and cultural significance.
The Indigenous icons painted by Sandra Hill feature a strong red line on the corner of the building that runs from top to bottom. This line symbolises the family blood line all the way back to the ancient Wadandi creation story of the Margaret River (place of Wooditch). The central brown circle depicts home country, Wadandi Boodjarra (Wadandi home country). The patterns in the middle circle are the traditional markings on shields. The red circle symbolises old, ancient blood. The black line circle symbolises community. The ochre dots on the outside symbolise family clan groups.
Jack Bromell illustrated marri branches with leaves and flowers to highlight a sense of place through connection with native wildlife and ancient culture. The marri tree is a species native to the southwest, and its name derives from the local Noongar language. Forest red-tails can frequently be found perched amongst marri branches feeding on nuts and flowers, which are an important food source.
Dandelions
Image source Margaret River Art Trails
Artist: Paula Cristoffanini, Nigel Lullfitz
Asset Type: Sculpture, Metalwork
Year of Work: 2017
Location: Reuther Park
Provenance: Shire of Augusta Margaret River
Description: It’s easy to imagine the breeze catching this dandelion, launching hundreds of tiny seeds into the wind.
Sculpted by two local artists as part of the Shire of Augusta Margaret River’s Plinth program which created artworks to be displayed in parklands throughout the shire.
It was conceived to provide a series of strong formal vertical lines and organic shapes to complement the local environment. The sculptures reference a signifier, balloons, alliums and dandelions in an abstract way. These were chosen as symbols of a gathering point, of celebration, of the joy of gardening and food growing, of survival and even of magic.
The work consists of three elements of varying sizes placed in a group. Each puff ball is slightly different and the poles are bent to add to the naturalistic feel of the dandelions.