Concept for painting of tank at Molong’s front door

A bright welcome, highlighted by blue skies, flowering yellow wattle and colourful birds, awaits visitors to Molong.

Following a $60,000 grant from the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal, growMOLONG held several public meetings and conducted street surveys to gather ideas for painting the drab, but prominent, old railway water tank at Molong’s entrance from Orange. Concept art is contained in growMOLONG’s Development Proposal (notified in last weeks Molong Express).

Submissions on the proposal are open until Friday 11 September. growMOLONG’s proposal states: “The Water Tank is located on the Mitchell Highway as you enter Molong from the East, a great location for an iconic piece of Public Art. Place of Many Rocks will not be on the tank as it is on the signage to Molong. The design wraps around the Tank and is easily visible from the Highway. It starts with colourful examples of a local wattle and Rosella, a common bird in the area, and a Magpie which is the symbol for many Molong sporting teams.

Then we move to the cultural aspects of “The Molong Story”. Major Sir Thomas Mitchell traversed this area and mapped out roads and towns for the new settlers. During his 4th expedition which eventually took him to Charleville he was guided by Yuranigh a local Wiradjuri man.

When he died Yuranigh was buried according to the local Aboriginal traditions with carved trees around his grave which indicated he was a significant person in his tribe. Mitchell was impressed with Yuranigh and asked the Governor to organize a suitable grave and headstone for him. This site is located about 4km east of Molong and is signposted for visitors.

In the image Mitchell would not be wearing a cattleman’s coat instead his uniform jacket. These images will be painted with the artistic interpretation of this brief. Finally we go back to another common bird found in the local area, a Blue Wren, and the Wattle.” The concept art is already garnering wide support locally and on social media. Local professional artists have been engaged and approvals from relevant authorities (Railway etc) obtained. Painting of the silos and/or the water tank have been long proposed. This project will certainly provide a bright welcome to the town.