By Callum Ludwig
The Wandin Station Historic Mural project is looking to jump back into action after Covid delays and get back to telling the story of the Wandin area.
Supported by the Mont De Lancey Historic Homestead and Wandin-Seville Bendigo Community Bank, the project began in 2019 and is capturing historic events, families and areas significant to the region.
Wandin-Seville Bendigo Community Bank Board Member Sue Harmsworth said that currently there are 14 or 15 murals along the Lilydale to Warburton Trial.
“All the murals are of a historic nature; some are based on old photographs from the Mont De Lancey museum, some are based on personal photographs and they aim to celebrate the origins of Wandin particularly, and Seville as well,” she said.
“The origin of the murals was the idea of a man named Norm Orr, who organised one in Warburton as an opportunity to showcase the historic nature of the area and how it’s developed.”
Mr Orr’s ancestors were early settlers in Wandin and helped establish the town as one of its founding families.
Ms Harmsworth said the township has quite an interesting history.
“Wandin Yallock was the original settlement and then it became Wandin North when the railway came through as it became more of a township, even though Wandin Yallock has got the primary school and old church still there,” she said.
“The murals show the early days with the pioneers coming out, how hard they had to work to chop down the trees and build themselves something more substantial as well as the descendants of the original families of the area.”
The photos have been painted as a mural by local artists such as Brad Colling, Peter Van Bruegel and Mary Newham and placed along the platform at the former Wandin Station.
The Wandin Station Historic Mural project slowed down over the last couple of years due to Covid, but plans are being organised for the installation at the Country Women’s Association branch in Wandin to celebrate their 90th anniversary.
