Two new road murals have been installed on Smith Street, marking the completion of City of Darwin’s Smith Street Streetscape project.
The murals are the final element of the Smith Street Streetscape project, which has delivered new trees and landscaping, better pedestrian and active transport access, new seating and lighting and public art along Smith Street.
Humidity Rising, designed by Darwin visual artist Minna Leunig, has been installed at the Smith Street and Edmunds Street intersection, while Hermit Hustle, designed by Larrakia artist Denise Quall, features at the Smith Street and Searcy Street intersection.
Lord Mayor Peter Styles said the completed murals provided a colourful finishing touch to the broader Smith Street improvements.
“Smith Street is an important part of our city centre and these new murals bring another layer of colour and character to the area,” Mr Styles said.
“It is particularly fitting that the final element of the project celebrates local artists and their connection to Darwin and the environment around us.
“It was also great to have local creative expertise behind the delivery of these works, with Proper Creative helping to bring the artists’ designs to life.
“Proper Creative has a strong track record of delivering public art across the NT and this team regularly deliver the Darwin Street Art Festival, and their involvement is another example of local talent contributing to the look and feel of our city.
“With the murals now complete, the Smith Street Streetscape project is finished, delivering a greener, more welcoming and better-connected city precinct.
“We know delivery of the project caused disruption for businesses and the community at different stages, and I thank traders, residents and visitors for their patience while the works were completed.
“These improvements are about creating a Smith Street that is greener, more inviting and better connected, supporting a vibrant city centre for locals, businesses and visitors,” he said.
Hermit Hustle highlights the importance of community cooperation through a playful scene of hermit crabs crossing the street, offering a fresh perspective on the everyday hustle and bustle of life.
Humidity Rising is a playful depiction of Larrakia Country and celebrates unique and diverse Australian ecosystems, drawing on Minna’s practice of creating works inspired by native landscapes.
Proper Creative is a Darwin-based company specialising in murals and creative projects, best known for its decade-long delivery of the Darwin Street Art Festival, with the Smith Street artworks marking its first road surface murals.
Community engagement undertaken in 2024 helped inform the Smith Street Streetscape design, with the project focused on creating a cooler, greener and more dynamic pedestrian hub in the heart of Darwin’s city centre.
The Smith Street Streetscape project was funded by the Northern Territory Government and delivered by City of Darwin as part of the Darwin City Deal.
