One of Benalla's most significant public spaces is the Benalla Ceramic Mural on Mair Street.

The mural was created by some of Australia’s leading ceramic artists and many residents from Benalla and surrounds from 1983 and completed in 2010.

The project combined the skills of architects and potters, the vision of indigenous people, and the enthusiasm and hard work of countless local volunteers, young and old.

The mural now stands proudly on the foreshore of Lake Benalla, offering an iconic cultural experience, for locals and visitors alike to enjoy.

While the mural offers a commanding presence on the Lake Benalla foreshore, community feedback and Council assessments indicate accessibility is limited and not ideal.

Council is proposing a new footpath concept and landscape plan to connect Mair Street, the Mural, and the Lake Foreshore precinct. This project is a priority to improve the accessibility of the area, with the new path designed to comply with Australian Standard AS1428.1 Design for Access and Mobility. The curvilinear shape is dictated by the need to keep the footpath at a grade of no less than 1 in 20, with the sweeping curves intersected by level landings that provide users with the opportunity to stop and rest. The path follows the crest of the site, with a minimal site cut proposed, to ensure the desired grade is achieved.

To promote the significance of the Benalla Ceramic Mural as a landmark icon in the city, we propose to plant complimentary gardens that highlight the mural and the open landscape within which it sits.

When completed, the project will highlight the expanse of lawn and the predominant sight line across Lake Benalla to the Benalla Art Gallery and Botanical Gardens.

For a closer look at the design, download the Ceramic Mural Urban Design Concept from the Document Library.