Smiths Lane

Clyde North, Victoria
Martinich & Carran in collaboration with Mirvac and Perks and Co Architects

Created by Rowena Martinich and Geoffrey Carran for Mirvac’s Smiths Lane development in Clyde North, this large scale mural forms part of one of the first civic and community buildings within an emerging suburb.

The building brings together the Smiths Lane Sales Hub with a Maternal and Child Health service, community centre and café, positioning it as an early gathering point for residents. Located close to the precinct’s park and playground, the site sits at the beginning of a much larger neighbourhood that will continue to evolve through new homes, retail, public spaces and community infrastructure.

Working alongside Harold Perks of Perks and Co Architects and the Mirvac team, Martinich & Carran developed the mural as a strong visual marker within this evolving landscape. Rather than treating the artwork as an applied surface, the composition responds directly to the architecture, landscaping and broader precinct. Deep plum and green tones reference existing planting and Mirvac’s visual language, while brighter yellow, orange and softer complementary colours establish a dialogue with the nearby playground. Linear elements reference pathways through the planned parklands, while broader sweeping gestures draw from the waterways and movement through the surrounding landscape.

At a point when much of the surrounding environment is still taking shape, the work introduces colour, identity and a sense of cultural presence from the outset. It establishes an early visual language for Smiths Lane: contemporary, energetic and connected to place, while creating something distinctive for the community to recognise as the suburb grows around it.

The mural is conceived as a landmark gesture rather than decoration, setting a cultural precedent early in the life of the development and signalling a community shaped by design, creativity and forward momentum.

Client: Mirvac
Architecture: Perks and Co Architects
Artists: Rowena Martinich & Geoffrey Carran
Location: Smiths Lane, Clyde North, Victoria