News Gippsland Murals & Street Art

A series of more than 20 pieces of street art, known as Heesco Town, have transformed the once blank walls of Yarram into vibrant displays. The murals were painted by world-renowned street and silo artist Heesco Khosnaran. An iconic pub. A gallery. A bakery. Even Beta Electricals got a makeover. Heesco Town has made the picturesque town of Yarram a premier street art destination.

Khosnaran has been painting the Heesco Town murals since 2020, with new murals added each year. The artworks honour those who made their mark in the history of this region, and those who continue to shape the town today. So beautiful and bold is the artwork, they scooped up gold at the 2020 and 2021 Australian Street Art Awards.

While you’re in town:

• Stroll around Yarram to soak up stunning heritage buildings including the Regent Theatre and the Yarram Courthouse Gallery. Boutique clothing, gifts and curio stores are a delight to wander as you stroll about the town.
• Soak up Yarram’s cafe culture from uber-cool breakfast nooks to freshly roasted beans from all corners of the world to the charm of the historic Federal Coffee Palace.
• The Tarra Cycling Trail is a gently undulating old rail trail that is an excellent introductory ride for young families, between Yarram and Alberton.
• A short drive will have you in Port Albert, a charming seaside village with a deluge of gorgeous historical buildings or the wild beauty of rainforest at Tarra Bulga National Park.

Stroll around town, taking in the many murals adorning the town centre by local artist Steve Bechaz. The street art is scattered around town as part of the annual Show Me Some Art Festival, adding a colour pop to the streetscape.

A quick drive out to Newborough will have you spotting a series of endangered native animal murals along Narracan Drive on an old bridge, fences and railway buildings.

While you’re in town:

• Soak up Moe’s upcoming foodie (and drinkie) scene with funky brunch haunts, tapas and wine bars.
• Moe Botanic Gardens offers a tranquil oasis of native and exotic trees and a labyrinth of walking paths. It’s also the starting point of the 8.5km Moe-Yallourn Rail Trail which takes you to Yallourn (another mural destination) via charming countryside and luscious Lake Narracan.
• A walk through the peaceful Edward Hunter Bush Reserve doesn’t disappoint with remnant bushland and a large lake.
• Head to Haunted Hills Mountain Bike Park for 13km of trails, for beginners to advanced levels. There’s a pump track and a kids trail too.

The artwork of five artists has collided into a display of colour and surprising locations along the East Gippsland Rail Trail (Bairnsdale – Orbost) in the public art experience, Under the Surface.

There’s artwork in unusual spaces – an old shed, a bridge, an underpass – that momentarily jolt you out of your nature-immersion to tell you a story about the land you stand, walk, e-bike, scoot or ride.

Each artwork explores harmony, nature and this special patch of the world, Gunaikurnai Country. Five sites help to connect everyone who uses experiences the East Gippsland Rail Trail to the artwork... and to the land.

While you’re in the area:

• Wander the sweet village of Bruthen, with heritage shopfronts holding vintage wares, a music shop and art gallery.
• Meander along the forest path to the iconic Stony Creek Trestle Bridge just before Nowa Nowa, where you’ll want to stop at Mingling Waters for one of the best burgers this side of Melbourne.
• A creative community thrives in the area, and the East Gippsland Art Gallery (Bairnsdale) celebrates that artistic spirit as a centre for visual arts.

Street art paying tribute to music legend, David Bowie is on display at Buckley Street. The mural has all the Bowie-esque technicolour and trippy-ness you’d expect, befitting the iconic musician. This work of art is complemented by some George Street wonders including a hooded woman surrounded by an explosion of colour in a laneway and a Day of the Dead figure surrounded by roses.

While you’re in town:

• Immerse yourself in Morwell’s pulsating cafe scene, flush with skilled baristas and cosy eats.
• Jewel of the art world, Latrobe Regional Gallery boasts an almighty seven gallery space resulting in an ever-changing range of carefully curated exhibitions, contemporary art and national touring exhibitions.
• Explore Morwell National Park, an enchanting place of forested gullies, peaceful picnic spots and elusive native orchids.
• Venture to the wide open parklands of Gippsland Immigration Park and wander some 70 points of interest tell the stories from Gurnaikurnai history to the rich multiculturalism of today.
• Heralding the western entrance to town, Morwell Centenary Rose Garden offers a perfumed oasis of 3,500 roses in garden beds accessed by windy paths.

A wander around the streetscapes of Briagolong will be sure to warm the cockles of your heart. A clutch of buildings around town are adorned by stunning murals. Be sure to check out the Post Office and General Store.

While you’re in town:

• Wander the main street of Briagolong and pop in to the Briagolong Art Gallery for contemporary works by local artists.
• Weave through the Briagolong State Forest on one of the many walking trails. Be sure to visit the Blue Pool, a natural gorge and swimming hole in the Freestone Gorge.
• Grab a bite at the Briagolong Hotel for a solid country pub feed.
• Head over to the cellar door in a hill to taste Mt Moornapa Wine's chardonnay, pinot noir, riesling and merlot.

You’ll feel like a giddy school kid racing from mural to mural along the Main St. Murals showing the town’s pioneering days adorn the kindergarten, an old garage, the brewery, even the local supermarket… any brick wall in town is fair game.

While you’re in town:

• Wander Mirboo North's main street for cafes, gift and specialty stores.
• Fashion, craft, textiles and jewellery are on display at the butter factory-turned-gift store, The ARTSpace.
• Baromi Park is centrally located and offers a playground, barbecues and skate park.
• Mirboo North is the start point of the 13km Grand Ridge Rail Trail to Boolarra, transversing hilly countryside and bush.