The 37-metre-long kangaroo mural project was finally completed on Wednesday 30 July.
Healesville-based artist Paul Sonsie finished drawing a giant kangaroo on one side of Healesville Walk Shopping Centre’s exterior.
The mural is now named Marram, the Woiwurrung word for kangaroo.
Mr Sonsie said the completion of the project was delayed due to the recent wet weather.
“Painting in the middle of winter isn’t ideal. The cold and rain make it tricky,” he said.
“But to be honest, painting in the peak of summer brings its own challenges too.
“In hindsight, the rainy days actually gave me a chance to rest and reset a bit, which wasn’t such a bad thing. It’s been a big install, so the breaks were kind of welcome.”
Throughout the Marram project journey, Mr Sonsie received numerous praises from community members, along with sponsorship from various organisations.
He said the positive feedback and support from the community mean “the world” to him.
“Being an artist or designer can be a pretty solo gig most of the time, so working out in public and getting real-time feedback has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve had literally hundreds of kind comments during the install, people waving, honking, stopping to chat,” the mural designer said.
“One of my favourite things was hearing how many families had their own guessing game going at home about what the mural was going to be. I had quite a few people tell me they’d come back each day to check on the progress and try to figure it out.
“That level of engagement, where the whole family’s talking about it, is exactly what you hope for with public art. It’s been such a great reminder of how a simple mural can spark conversation, curiosity and connection.”
Haymes Paint, an Australian-made and owned paint brand, donated 50 litres of paint for the project.
Kennards Hire Lilydale supplied the scissor lift, and Yarra Ranges Council provided a small monthly grant.
Haymes Paint commercial sales and strategy director Tim Haymes said the company was thrilled to support Mr Sonsie’s remarkable artistic talent, which has gifted the Healesville community with an enduring piece of public art that will be enjoyed for many years to come.
“Our business is a family and community-minded business, and when this opportunity came with Paul, we thought it was a fantastic time to get involved,” he said.
“Paul’s done the majority of the work, and we were just a small part of the involvement. We’d love to be involved in these types of local community ideas and initiatives.
“(The mural) is fabulous and the colours are brilliant. It blends in beautifully with the surroundings of Healesville.”
When asked about future mural projects for the town, Mr Sonsie said he’d love to paint another large-scale mural in Healesville or somewhere else in the Yarra Valley.
“I’ve even had ideas about continuing the theme on the back wall of Coles, which is actually even bigger than the current one,” he said.
“The biggest challenge, as always, comes down to funding. Building owners often aren’t in a position to cover the costs, and local businesses can find it hard to contribute too. Council grants are great but very competitive, and while sponsorship can help, it’s not always easy to secure. That said, I’m definitely open to new opportunities, and I think there’s a real appetite from the community to see more of this kind of work.
“I’m really passionate about cultural branding and about helping make our towns feel inspiring, creative and great to live in or visit. I’m doing this not just to grow my own creative business Sonsie Studios but to hopefully inspire the next generation of artists too. I want young creatives to see that public art is a real way to contribute, to shape a place, and to make a lasting impact.”
