End of the road for mural
Faces of 178 kids to be lost
THE State Government says it is unable to save a 22-yearold mural featuring the faces of 178 children.
The wall will be knocked down as part of a $1 billion upgrade of the M1 between Varsity Lakes and Tugun. Vegetation is being cleared in preparation for the 10km of work. The project will create 835 jobs and is due to finish in late 2023.
A Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) spokesman said the mural on the wall – first constructed as a sound barrier – could not be retained or relocated due to it “reaching the end of its lifespan”.
The spokesman said the department would work with the council to determine if there was opportunity to incorporate new community artwork.
The mural on the 500m wall opposite The Pines Shopping Centre at Elanora was the result of a competition the Bulletin held in November 1998. The children painted were selected from that competition.
Original artist June Hintz, of Phantast Cultural Music and Arts Association, said more than 800 community members participated in the painting of the wall.
“It’s a real shame this part of Gold Coast history is going to be lost, a lot of labour of love went into it,” Ms Hintz said.
“I haven’t even been told by Main Roads this was happening. I understand that time moves on, but it would be nice to somehow have this art that has become a landmark live on.”
In 2018, photographer and writer Maleika Halpin, 29, was awarded a Regional Arts Development Fund so she could write her book Children of the Freeway about the lives of the children depicted on the wall.
Ms Halpin had planned for the book to be released early next year, but felt she was now in a race with TMR.
“There’s no doubt the mural being knocked down will cause a community debate and from the people I’ve spoken to for the book there are different perspectives,” she said. “It’s definitely a memorial mural for some of the people involved. Some are happy they could have something to remember a lost one for so long, where others would prefer the memorial to live on somehow.”