We recently reached out to the community, asking if anyone remembered when the Bank Street mural was painted and we received a wide variety of dates. It was Linda Wright who finally pointed us in the direction of the 1984 Riverine Grazier archives. The mural was painted as part of the Festival of the Plains celebrations which took place in Hay in September 1984.

The Festival played out across 10 event filled days, during which the mural evolved. “The mural, which has already been commenced on the wall of Miller Huthwaites, will have its Open Day, on Monday. “All residents, young and old, are invited to help paint the theme which will concentrate on early transportation.

“It is expected this will take the full Festival week to complete.” The Riverine Grazier, September 19, 1984.

The Bank Street mural is now part of the Foodworks supermarket exterior. The mural scene includes a drover’s dream, and a number of scenes from Hay’s history – river shipping, Cobb and Co coaching days, the Merino industry and Chinese market gardens.

The western panel was given over to local children, who contributed to the mural with what the Grazier described as “free expression.” As a year four student of St Mary’s I remember walking along Pine Street in two lines, to take our place along the wall, adding a couple of paint strokes alongside school mates, before we were moved along so the next child could have a go.

The Grazier featured a photograph on the front page on September 19, in the lead up to the Festival. It showed Kate Gibson, Pat Harben, Norm Connor and Maggie Clark at the mural, with paint brushes and contributes them as the first to put paint on the wall.

The Festival started with a street procession led by Hay Citizen’s Band, and fun day at Hay Park. Hay Lions Club’s giant lion head parade float won first prize, and after workshops with local schools, painted clowns of all ages and stilt walkers filled the park. Dave Swan, Murray Dunn and Sharon Weymouth won the gumboot throwing competition and Ken Munn and Sean Simpson were equal winners of the nail driving competition. Leanne Congdon and Jenny Williams shared the win in the women’s section.

At a grand function at the Service Club Daph Myers – representing the Old Stalwarts Committee - was crowned the Personality of the Plains.

Other entrants were Liz O’Donnell (now Matthews) representing Hay Golf Club, Russell Vivian (Rotary Club) and Grant Mitchell (Youth Club). Hay Races, the One Tree Bush Picnic Races, three days of Tennis, a golf competition, a prawn and chicken night at the Golf Club and a mardi gras at the civic centre (now Hay Library) all added to the jam-packed schedule of events. Shop windows in Lachlan Street were decorated for the festivities, and Long’s Butchery (now Macker’s Meats) took first prize. Their window boasted “galah stew, fresh goanna and rabbit and quail steaks.”

The Bank Street mural led the way for a series of pubic artworks that have since transformed Lachlan Street: Murals under Hay Bridge - Located under the Hay Bridge beside the Murrumbidgee River, the bridge pylons were painted by inmates of Ivanhoe’s Warakirri Centre in 2005.

Bushy Bend sculptures - The walking track follows the curves of the Murrumbidgee River and features large public sculptures by artists John Wood and John Woodward. The interpretations were installed in 2012. The Spot mural – arguably one of Hay’s most photographed corners, Steph Cattanach had the distinctive mural painted in 2018 by sign writer Greg Chandler.

At the time, Steph operated the unique Spot Gallery and creative art space, where Saltbush Stretch is now located. Water Street water towers - Using the town’s Water Tanks as a backdrop, artists Matt Adante and Bill Campbell created a lasting memorial to the contribution of the people of Hay to the World Wars. Completed in December 2020 the towering murals feature service personnel Lieutenant Lorna Margaret Whyte, Private Victor George Murray, Corporal Clifford Leslie Farlow, Private William ‘George’ Cannon and Private Norman Charles Flack.

Mrs McGrath sculptures – John Wood returned to Hay in the middle of 2022 for the official opening of Mrs McGrath’s metal sculptures. Located on the forecourt in Whitcombe Place in the centre of town the legend of the bridge operator and her pet sheep are forever memorialised – Mrs McGrath and her sheep would lead mobs across the Hay Bridge for a small fee in the 1920s and 30s.

Laudromat mural – Hay’s newest Lachlan Street artwork is painted on the side of Meg’s Laundry Lounge. It was designed by local artist Rebecca Woods, who led a team of volunteers, who completed the colourful line of laundry painting over Easter 2025.