Sydney Desalination Pipeline Mural

– Rewrite Collective –

1km-long Aboriginal mural painted on Sydney Desalination Pipeline along Airport Drive in Tempe, NSW.

Tempe, NSW – 2024

This 1km-long mural along the Sydney Desalination Pipeline is a bold expression of culture, Country, and endurance—curated by Cultural Capital and designed by artists Dennis Golding and Carmen Glynn-Braun of Re-Right Collective, then brought to life by Indigo Jo and The Art of Wall.

The mural reflects the lands and seawaters of the Bidjigal, Gadigal, and Dharawal peoples, with motifs including shellfish, mangroves, seagulls, and wattles—guided by young Aboriginal artists Dakota Dixon-Campbell and Wirrin Lowe.

Indigo Jo and The Art of Wall played a key role in delivering the project on the ground. Over eight months, four women—working across three seasons—prepped, primed, painted, and sealed the entire above-ground section of pipeline alongside Airport Drive and Alexandra Canal in Tempe. The process involved:

8 coats of paint: 2 primer, 2 Monument Black basecoats, 2 layers of artwork, and 2 coats of anti-graffiti seal
Battling heat, rain, wind, swamps, theft, and the physical challenge of moving scaffolding and heavy ladders daily
Countless uplifting conversations with locals whose encouragement kept us going

This mural is a landmark project of cultural storytelling and collaboration—connecting the site to local histories and transforming industrial infrastructure into a powerful visual journey through Country.