Collaboration to complete “Wadandi Boodjarra” mural on Margaret River Main Street

Final touches to the latest mural funded by the Shire of Augusta Margaret River on Margaret River’s Main Street are being painted this week.

The extensive mural titled “Wadandi Boodjarra” is a collaboration between local artists Ian Mutch, Jack Bromell and Sandra Hill depicting Wadandi home country, local flora, and iconic Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos. 

Shire Sustainable Economy Officer, Saul Cresswell said support for the mural was part of an ongoing effort to create a sense of place and add to the vibrancy of our town centre as well as backing local artists.

“The group considered the nature and shape of the space, with most of the focus on the front half of the wall that is highly visible from the street.

“The collaboration involves each artist focusing on their specialty.

“I’d like to thank the artists and also Creative Corner for their role in facilitating this piece of art,” he said.

Indigenous icons are positioned lower down so that they are ‘grounded’ and not represented in the sky, and the mural especially focuses on the symbolism of Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos.

Ian Mutch has drawn on his expertise in painting photo-realistic birds to add a second Cockatoo to the first one that appeared on the wall in early July.

Mr Mutch said he often paints birds, which were suited to outdoor murals.

“They are uplifting and provide much energy to an artwork, especially in a public outdoor space.

“Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos are native to the South-West and provide a sense of place, belonging and cultural significance,” he said.

Award-winning Wadandi artist, Sandra Hill, describes the icons in her design featuring a strong red line on the corner of the building that runs from top to bottom.

“This line symbolises the blood line of family all the way back to the creation story of the Margaret River (place of Wooditch).

"This red blood line runs through our country.  The creation of Wooditjup (Margaret River) is an ancient story that has been told by our people long before colonisation and the River is a fully registered and very important Aboriginal site.

“The central brown circle depicts home country, Wadandi Boodjarra (Wadandi home country). 

“The patterns in the middle circle are our traditional markings on our shields. 

“The red circle symbolises old, ancient blood. 

“The black line circle symbolises our community.

“The ochre dots on the outside symbolise our family clan groups,” she said.

WA-based artist, Jack Bromell who has painted a number of local murals illustrated Marri branches with leaves and flowers to complement the Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos and the Indigenous symbology from Sandra. 

“The Marri tree (Corymbia calophylla) is a species native to the South West, whose name derives from the local Noongar language. 

“Red-Tails can frequently be found perched amongst Marri branches feeding on nuts and flowers, which are an important food source for native bird species.

“Painting Marri in the mural highlights a sense of place through connection with native wildlife and ancient culture,” he said.

The Shire is exploring options at an alternative location on the Main Street for an additional smaller mural.

From left, arists Ian Mutch, Sandra Hill and Jack Bromell working on their collaborative mural "Wadandi Boodjarra" Download high res image here