14 faces you’ll soon see on this epic Geelong mural

A MURAL featuring the faces of 14 Geelong locals has begun to take shape on the southern wall of the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre.

Spanning almost 90m along Smythe Street, the large-scale work is being created by internationally celebrated Geelong-born street artist Tyrone ‘Rone’ Wright.

The mural will become a permanent feature of the convention centre, which sits at the heart of the Nyaal Banyul precinct, a $676 million project supported by all three levels of government through the Geelong City Deal.

Painted in blue ochre, the faces have been chosen to represent Geelong’s social and cultural history and will appear in age order – from youngest to oldest.

They include representatives from the seven Wadawurrung family lines, acknowledging their enduring connection to Country and the role Traditional Owners have played in shaping the precinct.

Nyaal Banyul is the first convention centre in Australia to be designed from the outset in partnership with Traditional Owners.

“This mural aims to bring the community together, reflecting the community’s changing and evolving storyline along the wall,” Rone said.

“It’s a huge honour to create permanent work in Geelong, be involved in this project and share my work.”

Rone is perhaps best-known for his Jane Doe series – large-scale female portraits that have appeared in abandoned and decaying spaces in cities across the globe – but the convention centre mural is one of his most significant public works in the region to date.

It adds to his growing body of local murals, including his works at the Powerhouse Station in North Geelong, Provenance Wines in Fyansford and the since demolished Fyansford Cement Works silo project.

Geelong MP Christine Couzens welcomed the inclusion of Rone’s work to the Nyaal Banyul convention centre.

“I’m absolutely delighted that Rone will be bringing his talent to this exciting project,” she said.

“This state-of-the-art facility will not only transform Geelong’s landscape but also boost local jobs and drive economic growth.”

Expected to be completed by the middle of next year, the precinct will include a 1,000-seat theatre, conference and event spaces, a 200-room hotel and plaza.

Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj said the convention centre would be a “game-changer” for the region and how it was viewed by those further afield.

“It will bring major events, create local jobs and boost tourism across the region, and the mural by Rone, celebrating Geelong’s people, spirit and growing national profile, adds something truly special to the centre,” he said.