Northam Murals
Table of Contents
Northam's Best Murals
If you’ve ever found yourself hunting for a slice of Australian culture that’s off the beaten track, the Avon Valley town of Northam offers a delightful treasure hunt. Renowned for more than its historical significance and picturesque countryside, Northam is a canvas brimming with a vibrant subculture – mural art that trails through its streets, telling stories as old as the land itself. This phenomenon has not only revived the spirit of the town but turned it into a thriving magnet for art enthusiasts and families alike.
Nestled in the heart of WA, Northam’s mural art is a unique attraction that draws a perfect picture of what blend of culture, tradition and art can bring to a community.
Northam Mural Locations
List of Northam Murals
The Last Swans -Amok Island
In November 2020, the Fremantle artist known as Amok Island created a captivating mural titled “The Last Swans” on the facade of the historic Northam Flour Mill. This artwork was the result of a collaborative effort involving FORM, the Shire of Northam, CBH Group, and MAURI. “The Last Swans” serves as a homage to the unique population of white swans in Northam, a legacy initiated by Mayor Oscar Bernard in the early 20th century when he introduced these majestic birds to the town. Over the years, Northam has become the sole location in Australia where these swans can still be found living in the wild. Although their numbers have dwindled from once plentiful to just a few, these resilient birds continue to grace the banks of the Avon River, calling it their home.
Northam Silos
The Public Silo Trail, completed in September 2018 by cultural organisation FORM in partnership with the State’s largest grain handler CBH Group, has become one of Western Australia’s iconic drive trails linking together strong cultural narratives, storytelling and world class art, along one self-drive route
In 2015, the Northam Silo murals came to life under the skilled hands of international artists Phlegm, hailing from the UK, and HENSE, originating from the US.. Spanning over two weeks, they transformed the massive silos into artworks, even as the CBH continued its regular operations.
Phlegm’s artwork showcases his iconic, whimsical characters traveling in imaginative vehicles along each silo.
HENSE has simultaneously transformed his silos into a cohesive art piece. He meticulously worked across all four silos, blending each design into the next to create his signature abstract patterns. These patterns emerge in vibrant, explosive blocks of fluorescent color, showcasing his unique style.
The completion of the silos spanned over sixteen days and consumed approximately 740 liters of paint.
*Please note CBH Northam Grain Terminal is a fully operational grain handling site, with trucks and loading equipment constantly in use. The site is not open to the public. A safe viewing area on Toodyay Rd does not currently exist, however plans are in motion to establish one in the near future.
Aerial Playground - Jackson Harvey
Jackson Harvey is a visual artist and LEGO builder from Fremantle, you may remember him as the 2020 Season 2 winner from Australia’s LEGO Masters on Channel 9.
Aerial Playground is a 25 metre long mural lining the Gordan Place Laneway along the Secondhand store. Northam, renowned as the heart of hot air ballooning in Western Australia, serves as the inspiration behind this piece, crafted to honor the region’s rich ballooning heritage.
In this piece, Jackson skillfully manipulates the notion of physical scale, urging viewers to reflect on the outsized impact we exert on the landscape and the world at large.
Using aerosol as his primary medium, Jackson’s murals explore storytelling with colourful characters, rendered in vibrant colour schemes that are set against pixelated geometry and curvilinear forms.
This project was made possible by FORM, The Shire of Northam and Jackson Harvey.
Burgoyne Street Eats - Paul Deej
Paul Deej is a mural artist and illustrator from Perth, WA.
Deej’s bold colourful work is inspired by the popular cultures of movies, comics & Hip Hop.
Located on the side of Burgoyne Street Eats –Â 29 Burgoyne Street Northam
Avon Service Specialists- Paul Deej
Paul Deej is a mural artist and illustrator from Perth, WA.
Deej’s bold colourful work is inspired by the popular cultures of movies, comics & Hip Hop.
Avon Service Specialists commissioned a bespoke mural on the facade of their new residence, paying homage to the business and building’s historical importance. The right side of the mural includes Badger’s Motors and his heroic exploits in two-wheeled driving.
The left side of the mural shows the current premises origins as a Coca-Cola bottling factory and the business as a RAC contractor.
The Family We Find - Nicola Cowie
Nicola is originally from Scotland and moved to Australia in 2005.
Living in the Avon Valley, surrounded by the natural world, her creative process is deeply influenced by her environment. Her art captures the essence of native flora and fauna, weaving in art deco and figurative styles. Specialising in printmaking and watercolors, she skillfully blends these mediums. Her latest work focuses on still life and envisioned landscapes, brimming with familiar flowers and birds, showcasing her unique artistic vision.
The Family We Find piece painted in 2023 is located on the outside wall of the Northam Boulevard.
Beavis Place Park - Jackson Harvey
Jackson Harvey is a visual artist and LEGO builder from Fremantle, you may remember him as the 2020 Season 2 winner from Australia’s LEGO Masters on Channel 9.
Using aerosol as his primary medium, Jackson’s murals explore storytelling with colourful characters, rendered in vibrant colour schemes that are set against pixelated geometry and curvilinear forms.
The Wheatbelt
The Wheatbelt Mural depicts the Wheatbelt (land) Avon River (water) and sky (spirit). The animals are representive of the Merredin, Narrogin, Moora and Northam areas.
Thanks to the following groups for their contributions: NSHS students, Wirrapunda Foundation, Avon Valley Arts Society and CPFS staff. Thanks to Rihanna for her design input, Bilya Koort Boodja for consultation and Gibbs Carpentry for donating their time for assembly.
Completed 30th September 2021. Located 303 Fitzgerald Street
Pink Up Northam Wings
The Northam Wings is an interactive mural located at 142 Fitzgerald Street.
Pink Up Northam promotes fundraising, support and awareness activities in Northam each October for the McGrath Foundation.
Gordan Place Community Mural - Fiona Sinclair and Peter Hill
The Old Northam Primary School Mural located on Gordan Place is a wonderful mural showing the original Northam Primary School building and students.
Project: Fiona Sinclair and Peter Hill, Northam Mainstreet Project, Country Arts, Northam Town Council and year 7 students from Northam Primary School
Bridgeley Mural - Linzi Carter
Bridgeley public art mural completed by Linzi Carter in 2017
Linzi is a contempory artist born in the Wheatbelt town of Cunderdin and now based in Perth.
Linzi enjoys painting murals as well as illustrating and designing patterns for textiles.
Emu In The Stars - Kirk Garlett
Located between the Bilya Koort Boodja and the Northam Visitor Centre this captivating artwork emerged from a school holiday workshop in 2021 at the Bilya Koort Boodja (BKB) Centre, led by the talented Aboriginal Artist and co-manager of the BKB Centre, Kirk Garlett.
With an innovative use of recycled CDs, the piece beautifully mimics the twinkling stars in the night sky. Its inspiration draws from an Aboriginal Dreamtime story that depicts an emu in the constellation of stars across the Milky Way. This story portrays emus as creator spirits that once soared across the heavens, overseeing the land.
Northam Boulevard Mural - Robert Jenkins
Located directly across from the Sportspower Store, this captivating mural was crafted by Robert Jenkins, a renowned artist from The Black Mountains Art.
Robert Jenkins, originally from The Black Mountains in Wales and now based in Perth, Western Australia, is a multifaceted artist known for his work as an illustrator, muralist, and filmmaker. His creative inspiration is drawn from a diverse range of sources, including record covers, skateboard graphics, and the whimsical world of surrealism. Jenkins has a distinctive style characterised by vibrant, repetitive patterns and flowing designs, occasionally interspersed with figurative elements that seem to move and interact within the dynamic composition.
Flying 50 - Chris Nixon
Located on Grey street next to Freinds Garage
Chris Nixon is a multifaceted visual artist whose talents span illustration, graphic design, creative direction, and public art. Residing in Perth, Australia, his creations draw heavy inspiration from the West Coast’s iconic surf culture, emphasizing handcrafted elements and the intricate use of color, texture, and pattern. Nixon’s diverse portfolio includes everything from children’s books and animations to commercial illustrations and expansive art installations, showcasing his versatility and commitment to quality across various media.
Elizabeth Place Railway Mural
The mural on the rear wall of the old Holtfreters shop on the corner of Grey Street and Elizabeth Place celebrates the town’s railway history. Elizabeth Place is on the alignment of the old railway reserve which was closed in 1966. The new Standard Gauge Railway was opened, and the old Northam Railway Station closed
The Official opening took place in at the end of November 2023 and was attending by many of the very generous supporters of the project. Both sponsors and the community attended the official opening hosted by the members of the Northam Town team led by project leader Juana Paynter.
Sponsors:
– RAC Connecting Communities
– Daniel Reilly
– Shire of Northam
– Specialised Tree Services
– Midalia Steel
– ARC Infrastructure
– Avon Valley Toyota
Thanks to all the amazing sponsors and team of volunteers
Northam Agricultural Animural
Agricultural Animural, a 2024 Youth Week project designed and painted with the creative input of the youth of Northam.
Project by Avon Valley Arts Society Inc and Northam Town Team
Sponsored by CBH Group and Darren West MLC
Northam Agricultural Grounds Murals
Act Belong Commit murals along the Northam Agricultural Sheds
Northam War Memorial Mural
Northam War Memorial located at 263 Fitzgerald Street Memorial Hall Northam
Northam Grey Street Mural - Fiona Sinclair and Peter Hill
Celebrated farming history by Fiona Sinclair and Peter Hill in 1997
Grey Street Mural
Located on the corner of Grey Street and Elizabeth Place Northam
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Author - Jodie Lowen
Jodie Lowen is the owner of Wheatbelt Kids and a mother of two. She lives in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia and has worked in education for many years. Jodie is passionate about social media marketing and using online platforms to build community connections.
