culture
Geelong Murals Draw Crowds and Debate as New Works Appear on CBD Walls
Fresh pieces along Ryrie Street and Little Malop Street have residents debating the pace of change in the city's public art program.
How we reported this
Two large-scale murals completed last week on buildings facing Ryrie Street have residents stopping to photograph the works and question who decides what appears on Geelong walls.
The projects come as the city pushes ahead with its public art targets set in 2024, when council allocated funds for 12 new murals annually through 2027. Locals say the sudden visibility of the pieces, combined with summer foot traffic, has turned ordinary walks into conversations about ownership, style and whether the art reflects Geelong's working history or simply attracts visitors.
Works sited at two central locations
One mural covers the side of a former bank building at the corner of Ryrie and Moorabool Streets, showing layered images of wool bales and port cranes. The second sits on the laneway wall behind the Geelong Arts Centre on Little Malop Street and depicts abstract patterns drawn from local Indigenous weaving traditions. Both were funded through the council's Creative Geelong initiative, which partners with property owners to cover maintenance costs for five years after installation.
Organisers from the Geelong Street Art Network, a volunteer group formed in 2021, selected the artists after an open call that closed in May. The network also runs monthly walking tours that start at the National Wool Museum and finish at Eastern Beach, charging $18 per adult.
Numbers show rising interest
Council records released in June list 47 approved murals across the municipality since the start of 2025, with 19 of them added in the past six months. Visitor counts at the arts centre rose 14 percent in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period last year, and staff attribute part of the increase to people arriving specifically to see the laneway piece. Property owners report fewer instances of tagging on walls that carry the larger commissioned works.
Residents wanting to see the newest additions can join the next scheduled tour on 19 July, which leaves from the arts centre forecourt at 10am. The network posts updated maps on its website each month listing every approved mural still on view.