It’s big, bright, and beautiful: The Winchelsea Station precinct mural now complete
Last week, local artist and resident Lauren Green completed a colourful, vibrant mural adorning a 42-metre wall facing Winchelsea’s railway reserve.
The mural on the rear north-facing wall of Journey Early Learning Childcare Centre, is thanks to the efforts of a Community Project Working Group, led by Growing Winchelsea.
Lauren commenced works at 63 Hesse Street in February, seeking to beautify the blank wall, add interest to one of Winchelsea’s key visitor gateways and capture and celebrate what makes the town and district special.
“Anyone that knows me, knows how much I love Winch. So, when I got the huge opportunity to paint this massive 42-metre-long wall on the back of my boys’ kinder and daycare I was absolutely beside myself,” Lauren said.
This is the project I had been looking for without realising. It feels like all these teeny tiny steps of life led me here to this wall, to the most soul-filling, joyful work I’ve ever experienced.”
John Tebbutt from Growing Winchelsea said the project has strengthened the sense of community, with local Winchelsea Primary School students joining Lauren to help paint during two workshops held on February 14 and 21.
“It has brought younger and older generations together promoting a healthy and active town. I encourage everyone to come and have a look and feel a sense of pride in this project, initiated and completed by locals, and involving our local students,” John said.
“It is important we value and support our local artists and acknowledge the key contributions they make to our community.”
Growing Winchelsea’s Station Precinct Sub-Committee registered the proposal for a community-inspired mural project with Surf Coast Shire Council’s Community Project Development Program last year.
The mural has been made possible thanks to joint funding from the:
Surf Coast Shire Community Initiatives Grant ($5,000)
Property owner of 63 Hesse Street ($5,000)
Regional Arts Victoria – Regional Arts Fund Quick Response Grant ($5,000)
Lions Club of Winchelsea ($3,000)
Community Bank Winchelsea and District Community Initiative Grant ($3,000).
Cr Heather Wellington said the mural’s official opening will be taking place on 27 March.
“This project has been such a wonderful example of the good passionate community groups can do for their towns,” Cr Wellington said.
“This beautiful piece has brought such colour and joy to the area, given school students a wonderful sense of pride, and captures the essence of Winchelsea so perfectly.”
