This artwork was commissioned through an Expression of Interest (EOI) process, managed by FORM, to create Peppermint Grove’s first-ever mural. As such, the design needed to blend seamlessly with the park’s lush surroundings. Haylee’s high-quality concept and contemporary approach won the tender, incorporating local flora and fauna in a way that was both understated and visually striking. Using a modern Australian bush palette with a bold feature colour, she ensured the artwork felt organic and integrated with the existing architecture and natural surrounds. The design avoids harsh edges, wrapping around the building—including the toilet entry walls—to create a cohesive, immersive experience.

The black-and-white realism of local birds contrasts against a vibrant backdrop of stylised green foliage, while warm ochre tones and abstract botanical forms recall the bushland that once thrived here. Lush green leaves reinforce the theme of natural harmony, while a trio of maali yokan (cygnets) paddle closely behind a black swan, symbolising continuity and the cycles of life. The deep black feathers stand out against the soft pastel background, drawing the viewer into this serene river scene.

Ghostly outlines of a yonga (kangaroo) and a quoll emerge from abstract forms, blending seamlessly into the landscape - a quiet nod to the land’s original and now absent inhabitants.

This mural is a celebration of Peppermint Grove’s natural beauty and ecological history, bridging the past and present through a thoughtful fusion of colour, form, and movement. By embracing the existing architecture and working in harmony with the surroundings, the artwork transforms the space into a visual narrative of nature, continuity, and connection to place.