{"id":208902,"date":"2018-05-17T14:12:03","date_gmt":"2018-05-17T04:12:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=208902"},"modified":"2020-08-04T10:33:17","modified_gmt":"2020-08-04T00:33:17","slug":"murals-get-tick-of-approval","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/05\/17\/murals-get-tick-of-approval\/","title":{"rendered":"Murals Get Tick of Approval"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Artists Carolyn Summers and Lee Porter pose with project organiser Olivia Everitt next to one of the new Visitor Information Centre murals designed to showcase Murgon’s tourist attractions (Photo: SBRC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

May 17, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

A project to decorate the Murgon Visitor Information Centre’s walls with six murals was officially opened last Thursday by South Burnett Deputy Mayor Kathy Duff.<\/p>\n

The Centre, in Lamb Street, now hosts the colourful murals which represent aspects of Murgon\u2019s tourist attractions and rural communities.<\/p>\n

Project organisers hope the artworks will encourage more tourists to stop and visit the Centre and the surrounding area.<\/p>\n

The project was jointly sponsored by the South Burnett Regional Council and Arts Queensland, with local artists Lee Porter and Carolyn Summers taking a little under a week to complete the work. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Lee said the project ran slightly over schedule because of the large number of people who stopped to admire it.<\/p>\n

The two artists said the positive comments they’d received from the community had been overwhelming, but they enjoyed the experience.<\/p>\n

Cr Kathy Duff thanked the Murgon community for suggesting topics for the murals, and praised the artists.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese murals signify that tourism is alive and well in our region, and it provides Murgon with a \u2018point of difference\u2019 from the other centres in the South Burnett.\u201d<\/p>\n

SBRC Senior Economic Development Officer Craig Tunley reported that between January and March this year – which is traditionally tourism’s “off season” – the Murgon Visitor Information Centre received 1154 visitors and generated $747 in sales, with volunteers donating 596 hours to keep the doors open.<\/p>\n

A survey completed during the same period to determine why people visited the centre disclosed that 21 per cent were seeking local information, while a further 15 per cent dropped in to pick up or return keys for Murgon’s free camping area.<\/p>\n

A further 26 per cent wanted brochures on local attractions or information about events, accommodation or the rail trail, or needed maps or directions.<\/p>\n

Footnote: Cr Kathy Duff has told southburnett.com.au a blank area has been left on the Murgon VIC walls to allow Aboriginal artwork to be added during a future project.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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