Kawaii Kurri Kurri Kookaburra and Platypus

 

A new year a new Platypus adventure. Welcoming in 2022 I traveled to the Hunter Region town of Kurri Kurri located in Wanaruah country (AKA Wonnarua). The name Kurri Kurri is said to originate from the Wanaruah word Ka-Ri-Ka-Ri meaning beginning, the very first.  Kurri Kurri is known as the town of murals with currently a total of 61 mural, here is a map of the murals (click on highlighted text to download).  Many of the murals celebrate the history of the town.  

The murals that feature a platypus are the Stream Train mural located at 40 Mitchell Ave created by Phil Presker and shows the railway line at Richmond Vale Colliery. It also has native animals such as platypus, emu, kangaroo, bearded dragon/frilled neck lizard, lace monitor and kookaburra.

 

The second mural to feature a platypus is the mural entitled Korri art created by Les Elvin and local youth. It is located at 40 Alexandra Street behind the Shell petrol station on a brick wall.  It features a beautiful Indigenous Australian design celebrating the natural wildlife and the Sugar Loaf Mountain range.

 

Here's a selection of my fav murals I saw. 

Inclusion Mural (Stephen James & local community) (No.59 on mural map)

On the Buses (Kim, Alexander & Charlotte Barker No.29 on mural map)

 

Ian "Beat" Hill (Daniel Joyce No.57 on mural map)

Kookaburra Mural (Harley Kirkwood No.1 on mural map)

Time Tunnel (Astrid Hubert & local youth No.36 on mural map)

Drive In (Jeremy Kang No.10 on mural map)

Stairway to nowhere (Graham Wilson & local youth No.6 on mural map)

 

 

 

Other icons around the town are the Big Kookaburra located at 219 Lang Street within the Col Brown Rotary Park.It was created from recycled materials by artist Chris Fussell.  The popular pub The Kurri Kurri Hotel located at 180 Lang Street which was built in 1904. 

 Kurri Kurri is a lovely place to visit to explore the murals and learn about local history.

Below is more footage I filmed while at Kurri Kurri