Connecting Gardens Through Art

A Creative Corridor Inspired by Nature

What began as a simple effort to brighten a railway underpass has become a vibrant creative corridor celebrating the plant and animal life of local forests and wetlands.

Funded through the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF), the mural highlights local biodiversity and connects people with the natural environment. 

Located beside Nebo Road, the mural links key areas of the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens. Each section reflects species found within the gardens and surrounding landscapes, encouraging visitors to pause, observe, and learn.

Creative corridor
 
A journey through local landscapes

This mural traces the natural transitions of our region—from rainforest floors to tall eucalypt forests, wetlands and lagoon edges.

Together, these connected scenes form a continuous journey, showing how native Queensland species shape the identity and rich biodiversity of the Mackay region.

What you’ll see

Look closely to discover native plant species inspired by those grown and protected in the Botanic Gardens.

Local wildlife is woven throughout the artwork—birds, reptiles, mammals and insects appear alongside the plants they depend on.

These relationships reflect the strong connections between species and their habitats, representing rainforests, open forests, lagoons and waterways.

Look closer

As you move through the tunnel, take a moment to notice the details.

Do you recognise any of the plants or animals?

Continue into the Botanic Gardens to see them in real life—growing, moving and thriving in their natural environment.

This journey invites you to build your own connection with the local landscape.

Native flora featured in the mural

The mural includes artistic representations of native plants from:

*   Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens

*   The Central Queensland Coast Bioregion

Together, these species highlight the diversity of local flora.

Flora Listing

Botanical Name – Common Name

Acacia bancroftiorum – Bancroft’s Wattle

Actephila championiae – Koumala Range Actephila

Allocasuarina littoralis – Black She-oak

Alpinia caerulea – Native Ginger

Alstonia scholaris – Milky Pine

Apowollastonia spilanthoides – Native Wedelia

Araucaria cunninghamii – Hoop Pine

Archontophoenix alexandrae – Alexander Palm

Adiantum hispidulum – Rough Maidenhair Fern

Argyrodendron polyandrum – Brown Tulip Oak

Bonamia dietrichiana – Dietrich’s Morning Glory

Brachychiton acerifolius – Flame Tree

Carallia brachiata – Freshwater Mangrove

Cordyline manners-suttoniae – Giant Palm Lily

Corymbia citriodora – Lemon Scented Gum

Cycas media – Queensland Cycad

Dianella caerulea – Flax Lily

Diploglottis australis – Native Tamarind

Doodia aspera – Rasp Fern

Drynaria rigidula – Basket Fern

Drynaria sparsisora – Coarse Basket Fern

Elaeagnus triflora – Millaa Millaa Vine

Elaeocarpus grandis – Blue Quandong

Eucalyptus raveretiana – Black Ironbox

Falcataria toona – Mackay Cedar

Ficus racemosa – Cluster Fig

Graptophyllum ilicifolium – Mt Blackwood Holly

Harpullia pendula – Tulipwood

Hibiscus divaricatus – Native Hibiscus

Hoya australis – Native Hoya / Waxflower

Lomandra hystrix – River Mat‑rush

Lysiphyllum hookeri – Hooker’s Bauhinia

Macaranga tanarius – Macaranga

Mackinlaya macrosciadea – Mackinlaya

Marsilea sp. – Nardoo

Melaleuca leucadendra – Weeping Paperbark

Melaleuca viminalis – Weeping Bottlebrush

Melastoma malabathricum – Native Lasiandra / Blue Tongue

Melia azedarach – White Cedar

Melicope elleryana – Pink Evodia / Corkwood

Mucuna gigantea – Burny Bean Vine

Nauclea orientalis – Leichhardt Tree

Nymphaea gigantea – Blue Waterlily

Nymphoides indica – Water Snowflake

Omphalea celata – Tree Omphalea

Pandanus brookei – Screw Pine

Parsonsia lanceolata – Rough Silkpod

Pipturus argenteus – Native Mulberry

Pittosporum angustifolium – Weeping Pittosporum / Gumbi Gumbi

Podocarpus elatus – Plum Pine / Brown Pine

Syzygium australe – Creek Cherry

Toona ciliata – Red Cedar

Xanthorrhoea latifolia subsp. latifolia – Forest Grass Tree

Fungi Listing

Botanical Name – Common Name

Phallus indusiatus – Bridal Veil Stinkhorn

Microporus xanthopus – Yellow‑footed Micropore

Acknowledgements

The Botanic Gardens Tunnel Mural is a true community collaboration.

It reflects a shared commitment to protecting and celebrating our local environment.

Community Support

This project was supported by Native Plants Queensland – Society for Growing Australian Plants (NPQ–SGAP), Mackay Branch.

Their expertise in native flora helped guide plant selection and design.

Their ongoing work continues to inspire local conservation and environmental care.

Funding Partners

Funding was proudly provided through the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF).

The successful funding application was submitted by NPQ–SGAP Mackay Branch, with additional financial support provided to complete the project.

RADF is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Mackay Regional Council.

It supports local arts projects that reflect community stories and strengthen cultural identity.

The Artist

The mural was led by local mural and botanic artist Kate Brunner.

Her creative vision shaped the overall story of the artwork.

She was supported by volunteer artists from Mackay’s Botanical Art Interest Group (B.A.I.G).

Together, these contributions have transformed the tunnel into a lasting celebration of art, nature and regional pride.