‘River Lines’

Collie Mural Trail | Crampton St Pump House, Collie WA
- November 2020

‘River Lines’ speaks to the history and evolution of the stretch of Collie River that neighbours the Crampton St Pump House site. Inspired by conversations with locals, news clippings from the 1964 flood, and research into the river’s ecology and management plans. The story flows in three parts across the painted faces of the building and is a reflection of changing water levels and river health.

It begins with the pre-European river environment; clear waters, prolific boronia and thriving jarrah forest. This is followed by a decline in water quality and fauna numbers as altered water flow and invasive species, such as nardoo weed, leave their impact. Then, the recovery begins and species such as gilgie return to healthier population numbers, and wildflowers like the collie grevillea can be nurtured and celebrated, as a balance is found between the natural and manufactured systems of the Collie River Valley.

This is the river’s journey in navigating competing recreational, commercial, cultural and ecological demands and thresholds. However, it reflects much of Collie’s broader narrative and exists at a time where the town finds itself entering into a new chapter of its story. 

The scientific name for the collie grevillea, is ‘Grevillea ripicola’ - where ‘ripicola’ roughly means ‘living by the bank of the river’. I think this moment in time, is a great opportunity for Collie to question what it means to live by the bank of the river; to shape and champion what the privilege and responsibility of this lifestyle looks like.