Ballina Public Art – Wonderful Wardell

Bright, bold, and brimming with community spirit, Wonderful Wardell is a large-scale digital mural created by local artist Kate Stroud in collaboration with the Wardell community.

Developed during the Wonderful Wardell event in June 2024 — a celebration of local pride and creativity — Kate invited residents to share what their river town means to them through a creative design workshop. The result is a joyful artwork that combines these community contributions into a single vibrant piece adorning the Wardell Bridge abutments.

Drawing inspiration from vintage Australiana tea towels and featuring culturally significant local symbols, the mural captures the personality, humour, and warmth of Wardell. It’s a colourful reminder of connection — to place, to people, and to the stories that make this riverside town unique.

Kate Stroud is a Northern Rivers artist, signwriter, and large-scale muralist celebrated for her joyful, rebellious, and community-led artworks. Her murals and designs enliven laneways, shopfronts, and public spaces from Lismore to Perth. Passionate about creativity as a form of identity and connection, Kate’s work is a vibrant celebration of local culture, resilience, and place.