Artists statement

'The first panel celebrates the long history of runners that use the park. Richmond Harriers Athletics Club was established in 1913 and is the oldest athletics club in Victoria. The central panel depicts young female footballers and recognises female athletes and the popularity of women and girls' teams in contemporary sports. The final panel depicts a children’s cricket match. The young players are represented through the depiction of a game that is part of our national psyche and firmly entrenched in Australian culture.'

Historical information

Inner-city parks like Citizens Park have many diverse uses. They provide places to play, to exercise and to relax. They are spaces for community and are often subject to competing values and interests. The re-development of the Jack Dyer Pavilion at Citizens Park allows for the growth of the local community’s diverse interests and values and enables participation and interaction.

'The Park' focuses on the recreational uses of Citizens Park and its role as a community space in an area that is changing rapidly. The mural consists of three panels that address inclusivity and access to sport. Three core sporting groups who each utilize the pavilion and park as a public recreational space are represented: children, sport teams and runners. In fostering the representation of these groups, the panels also attest to the past, present, and future of this important space.

Physical description

Three sporting groups are represented: athletics/runners, women footballers in line formation and young cricketers in action/play.

Inscriptions & markings

Accompanying plaque