Peter Farmer Jr paints vibrant mural on Amherst Street as Katanning mural trail grows

Katanning has added another public art mural to its collection, with a western rosella now greeting passers-by on Amherst Street. Created as a welcoming statement to the town, the mural has been designed to recognise and celebrate the area’s Noongar history. The mural features a western rosella surrounded by vibrant colours and traditional Biddi tracks to signify the town’s diversity. Noongar artist Peter Farmer Jr is the artist behind Katanning’s latest mural. He said the design for the project came from an artwork he originally painted on canvas. “The design I did fitted in really well with what the council was looking for, and they were very impressed with it,” Farmer said. Although it is a less known part of Aboriginal art culture, Biddi tracks were “very traditional” for WA’s South West, Farmer said. “The tracks in the painting signify travel, where you have been and where you are going,” he said. “They signify that no one has a straightforward path to their destination in life — there are always twists and turns.” At just 24, Farmer has already established his name as an up-and-coming artist, having exhibited at Perth Fringe World and helped with the designing of uniforms for Aboriginal liaison staff at Royal Perth Hospital. He credits a lot of his success to his father, Peter Farmer Sr, who was born up in Gnowangerup and became an acclaimed artist, creating designs for the West Coast Eagles’ Indigenous round guernsey and Jimmy Choo shoes. “I learned pretty much everything off my father,” Farmer said. “I can ask him for advice, I can learn from his mistakes and to be in that position is very lucky.” Farmer hopes his artwork inspires young people in the local community to pursue a career in the creative arts. “They should trust in themselves and be confident they will succeed,” he said. “There are lots of opportunities to tell stories, make a living and be who they are.” Farmer was awarded the contract to paint the mural at a Shire of Katanning council meeting in December, with the project being funded using a grant from the Federal Government’s Drought Communities Program.