New mural transforms Hobart landmark

Tucked away along the Sandy Bay coastline, a once-unassuming pump station has been transformed into a vibrant artwork through a community-led art initiative celebrating local pride and healthy waterways. 

Led by Tasmanian muralist Bec Adamczewski, the Blinking Billy Mural brought together emerging artists Kate Deane and Shiloh Quilliam to collaborate on a vibrant visual story celebrating Tasmania’s marine environment and the voices of its youth. 

Ms Adamczewski said the artwork, which was supported by the Art for the Sea project, celebrated the rich biodiversity of timtumili minanya (The River Derwent) and nearby oceans.   

“This work highlights endemic, vulnerable and endangered species alongside the impact of introduced life and human activity,” she said.  

“Each side of the Blinking Billy facade flows with oceanic rhythms, currents, kelp, sea stars, jellyfish and soft corals, forming a tapestry of movement and life.  

“Woven baskets, used for millennia by Tasmanian Palawa people to gather shellfish like abalone, speak to the enduring abundance of the sea and its deep cultural significance.”  

TasWater’s head of brand and insights Jill Cummins said the mural was part of a broader Asset Art Program.  

“This program transforms infrastructure into public art to foster pride, reduce vandalism and spark conversation about water, community and country,” she said.  

“Blinking Billy is such an iconic spot and it’s an honour to help turn it into a canvas for youth-led storytelling,” 

“This mural is about more than just colour, it’s about connection, climate, and the power of young voices to shape our future.” 

The Blinking Billy Point Mural was a TasWater-owned and commissioned project with the artists supported by the Art for the Sea Project made possible through the City of Hobart Youth Climate Action Fund with financial support from Bloomberg Philanthropies. 

For more information about the Art for Sea Project and the Blinking Billy mural visit www.yoursay.taswater.com.au/blinking-billy-mural