Wangaratta Railway Station Mural
CASE STUDY:clientInland Rail
Wangaratta, Victoria
locationArt Direction + Curation + Public Art Production
Tommy Day
SCOPEArtist01 overviewA gateway grounded in Country
As part of the revitalisation of Wangaratta Railway Station, Juddy Roller was engaged by Inland Rail to curate and deliver a major First Nations-led public artwork across the station underpass.
Created by Yorta Yorta artist Tommy Day, Mirring Leerpeen (Country’s Song) transforms a functional piece of transport infrastructure into an immersive cultural gateway - one that connects contemporary journeys through Wangaratta with the enduring stories, pathways and cultural knowledge embedded in Country.
Spanning both sides of the underpass, the artwork uses flowing forms, vivid colour and a strong sense of rhythm to create an experience of movement and arrival. Rather than treating public art as a decorative addition, the project embeds cultural meaning directly into the infrastructure and identity of the renewed station precinct.
“This artwork makes fantastic addition to the revitalised Wangaratta Railway Station precinct. I am proud to support projects like this that celebrate our local history and reflect the wider community’s vision for the space.”
Jaclyn Symes
Member for Northern Victoria
02 the challengeInfrastructure that tells the of a place
More than an infrastructure upgradeRailway underpasses are designed primarily for movement. They help people get from one side of a station to another, but they can often feel anonymous, transitional, and disconnected from the places they serve.
The revitalisation of Wangaratta Railway Station created an opportunity to think beyond function alone
Located at an important point of arrival and movement within the city, the underpass had the potential to become more than a passageway. It could welcome visitors, strengthen the identity of the precinct and reflect the deeper cultural history of the region.
The challenge was to create an artwork that could operate at the scale and pace of public infrastructure while remaining culturally grounded, site-specific and meaningful to the local community.
The opportunity was not simply to improve the appearance of the underpass, but to give the journey through it cultural meaning.
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First Nations artworksquare metersactivation legacy04 the deliveryCultural Stories at Scale
Artist Curation
Yorta Yorta artist Tommy Day was selected for his ability to translate Country, culture and movement into a bold contemporary public artwork.
Cultural Consultation
Developed with Traditional Owners and local Elders, ensuring the artwork’s stories, symbols and connection to place were approached with respect.
Delivering a culturally significant artwork within public transport infrastructure required equal care across consultation, creative translation, technical planning and on-site production. Every stage protected the integrity of Tommy Day’s vision while meeting the practical demands of a high-use station environment.
Site-Responsive Design
The composition was adapted across both sides of the underpass, transforming a functional pedestrian connection into a welcoming gateway to Wangaratta.
Seamless Site Delivery
Juddy Roller coordinated the artist, Inland Rail, council, contractors and site teams, with Dulux Weathershield® supporting vivid colour and long-term performance.
04 outcomesContemporary movement. Ancient pathways.
→ A functional railway underpass transformed into a culturally significant gateway grounded in Yorta Yorta Country
→ A distinctive visual identity creating a stronger sense of arrival at Wangaratta Station
→ Traditional stories, songlines and connections to Country embedded within the everyday passenger journey
→ Broad community visibility supported by statewide WIN News coverage and high-quality digital content
→ A permanent public artwork strengthening cultural recognition, local identity and connection to place
Public art as a gateway to Country.
This project transformed a functional railway underpass into a culturally significant gateway grounded in Yorta Yorta Country. By combining artist curation, cultural consultation, site-responsive design and infrastructure-scale delivery, Juddy Roller creates public artworks that strengthen identity, connection and the everyday experience of place.
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