AN AMENITIES block at Marcoola has been transformed into a colourful celebration of the Sunshine Coast Biosphere, with the local community helping bring the new mural to life.

Marcoola Community Group president Susie Chapman said the idea had been talked about for years before the opportunity finally came up to turn the old building into a canvas.

“We got to play with this beautiful and big old-fashioned block building which has been a blank canvas for so many years,” Susie said.

The project was designed by Kabi Kabi artist Zartisha Davis with muralist Sarah Sculley and together they worked with the community through a series of workshops.

Sarah then created stencils and mapped out the design before residents and children joined in for what Susie described as a giant “paint by numbers”.

“It was a collaborative effort and lots of people picked up paint.”

The mural features coastal and island themes, along with banksias and an important First Nations element – Shell Middens.

Susie said the Middens represented the long connection between First Nations people, the coast and its waterways, with the shells holding memories.

Kabi Kabi dancers were also part of the opening ceremony which helped connect the mural to the stories and culture of the area.

Susie explained how that First Nations connection is an important part of what the Sunshine Coast’s UNESCO Biosphere designation represents.

“It’s not just about landscape and species – it’s also about people and culture – historic culture and present culture,” Susie said.

The mural celebrates the people, landscapes, species and culture that make up the region, while reminding the community that caring for the biosphere is an ongoing and shared responsibility.

The project was made possible by the funding and work from the Borrell Family, Carolyn and Martin Jordan-Williams from Austraffic, White’s IGA, Bendigo Bank, Marcoola SLSC, OSCAR Inc and Sunshine Coast Council.

What is a Biosphere Reserve 
They are places where science, culture, and inclusive governance come together, showing how biodiversity conservation and sustainable development can successfully go hand in hand.

They are places where science, culture, and inclusive governance come together, showing how biodiversity conservation and sustainable development can successfully go hand in hand.

They are governed by UNESCO and rather than separating people from nature, biosphere reserves are founded on the principle that communities and ecosystems thrive together. Indigenous Peoples and local communities, including civil society and business organisations, are active partners in protecting and restoring ecosystems while building resilient, sustainable livelihoods.