Mural shares the Smythesdale story

A NEW mural by artist Jon Lam is set to be officially unveiled this Saturday within the Smythesdale Historic Precinct.

Commissioned by the Woady Yaloak Historical Society, the artwork has been painted behind the old courthouse and can be viewed from the town green.

It tells the story of Smythesdale as an historic mining community, depicting gold panning, a poppet head, and key mining surveyor and councillor John Lynch Senior.

Also part of the mural are the 1862 Post and Telegraph Office, Nimons Railway Bridge at Newtown, midwife Mrs Weeks, a Yam Daisy which is part of the diet of the Wadawurrung people, and Indigenous totems Bunjil the wedge-tailed eagle and Waa the raven.

“It took me two weeks to paint the mural,” said Lam. “I’ve painted the poppet head from a real photo of the Smythesdale mining town.”

About two years ago, Lam was approached to do the public art piece because he has done many similar works before.

“In particular, a portrait I did of my father-in-law impressed the Historical Society committee, and they wanted something painted in a similar style,” he said.

“The committee members of the Woady Yaloak Historical Society are the friendliest people and easiest to work with.

“I have also had a lot of positive feedback from the local community and that is always a buzz and plus for me.”

For Lam, the commission has been a “win-win situation.”

“It’s giving my work more exposure, but mural towns get an influx of tourists because people travel to look at the artworks,” he said.

“When they stop by, it generates business to the local community.

“Even while I was there for the two weeks painting, I had lunch in a coffee shop every day, and so did my wife and a friend when they came to see me.”

Lam is a member of the Ballarat Society of Artists and GP Arts Inc, and put the finishing touches on the mural during the 2024 Smythesdale Arts and Music Fiesta.