Kareela Road Village Mural

Community youth mural project #3| Frankston & Mornington Peninsula

I had the privilege of mentoring ten emerging artists from the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula areas through Frankston Salvos Youth Services. This project marked our third collaborative mural, following the success of an earlier work in April. Once again, it was a pleasure to be invited by Katie—our committed youth worker and project facilitator—to lead this creative journey.

Over a series of evening workshops and ongoing conversations in our WhatsApp group, we developed a mural design inspired by the newly built natural playscape at Kareela Road. With incredible generosity, local shop owner Kaitlin and her family offered up their wall, transforming what was once a blank, grey surface into a colourful celebration of community and nature.

The resulting mural is a whimsical, family-friendly tribute to “Australian Woodlands” and “Nature Play.” It’s rich with native flora and fauna, imaginative characters, and playful elements that reflect the surrounding environment and invite interaction.

Throughout the process, I encouraged the young artists to bring their individual styles to the project while working within a shared colour palette. Together, we layered personal narratives, sparked micro-collaborations, and fostered a strong sense of ownership and pride in the final work.

Experienced artists brought bold ideas and confidence to the wall, while those new to mural painting embraced the challenge and left with fresh skills and a sense of accomplishment. Watching each of them grow through this process—and contribute to something lasting in their community—was a real honour.

Location: Kareela Rd, Frankston

Medium: Spray Paint and acrylic paint

Dimensions: 12mW x 5mH (87m2)

Date: September 2022

Client: The Salvation Army Youth Services- Peninsula