Wool Bay and Minlacowie tank murals begin

Work is underway on large-scale murals on SA Water tanks at Minlacowie and Wool Bay.

Artists and local mentorship recipients were inducted on Thursday, 16 March, and participated in traditional smoking ceremonies at both locations.

The Minlacowie and Wool Bay – Southern Yorke Peninsula Water Tower/Tank Mural extension project was made possible through $130,000 funding from the Australian Government through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.

SA Water is contributing $20,000 toward the project.

“Council is excited about the expansion of the SYP Water Tower/Tank Mural Trail which already includes amazing murals at Yorketown, Port Vincent, Stansbury, Coobowie and Edithburgh,” Mayor Darren Braund said.

“The Minlacowie tank is already turning heads between Yorketown and Minlaton as you can see a sea of colour just off Harry Butler Road.

“At Wool Bay, lots of work has already been achieved on the shed and water tank near the town golf course.

“The end result will be two incredible sights that our community can be proud of, and visitors can enjoy at any time of year.”

Renowned artists Mike Makatron and Sam Brooks have been selected to lead the murals.

Mike’s artwork at Minlacowie – a huge tank between Minlaton and Yorketown – will include local scenery that relates to Yorke Peninsula Council’s slogan of ‘agriculturally rich, naturally beautiful’ with prominent nods to Narungga culture.

Mike is being ably supported by Conrad Bizjak and Dylan Butler, who both contributed to earlier murals as part of the local trail, as well as Narungga artist Harley Hall.

Sam’s Wool Bay painting will include separate but connected murals on the site’s shed and tank, tying the town and surrounding region’s history to its present day.

Sam is also utilising the skills of Harley, as well as Mark Harding.

Additionally, four local artists have also won the opportunity to learn about large-scale mural painting and will be mentored by the artists.

Jason Swales, of Marion Bay, and Rachelle Plazeriano, The Pines, will each spend one week painting the murals under the guidance of the lead artists and their supporting artists.

Two local teenagers who also expressed an interest during the mentorship expression of interest period, Gary Nowlan of Marion Bay and Sabine Meyer, Yorketown, have been chosen as junior mentees.

They will each spend at least one day contributing to the projects and learning valuable skills.

Works on the murals are expected to take place over the next few weeks.