Our Mighty River
A community-informed public artwork transforming a park pathway into a permanent story of resilience, connection and place.
A pathway that tells a community story
Following the 2022 Maribyrnong flood, Council commissioned a permanent artwork for Coulson Gardens. The pathway needed to reflect local experiences of the flood, the river and the neighbourhood, while becoming an engaging part of the park itself.
Listening before drawing
Community workshops invited people to share memories, words, drawings and ideas about the river, the flood and what the area meant to them.
These contributions became the starting point for the artwork.
Turning stories into a visual language
Words, drawings and local references were developed into a collection of illustrations, lettering and graphic elements.
River plants and wildlife sit alongside people, places and community memories, connected by a flowing system of ripples and pathways.
Designed for the path
The illustrations were translated into large-scale production artwork for sandblasting and painting directly onto the pathway.
The design had to work at a very different scale - readable underfoot, durable outdoors and engaging from different directions.
A walk along the river
The finished pathway unfolds through Coulson Gardens, revealing words, illustrations and community stories along the way.
What the community thought
Following installation, Council surveyed local residents about the artwork, with 73% of respondents reporting a positive perception.
“It beautifully captures both the pain and the strength our community experienced after the 2022 floods.”