New mural to showcase Subiaco history
A new large-scale, photorealistic mural is currently being painted at 325 Barker Road, a few steps from the Salvos op shop.
Created by Jacob Butler (known professionally as Shakey), the mural is inspired by an image from a celebratory event in 1952, when Subiaco was officially declared a City.
Shakey specialises in this style of photorealism, and his work can be found across Australia, from remote coastal settlement to inland farms to inner-city areas. He may be best known by the local community for his extensive works as part of the award-winning Collie Mural Trail.
This new mural features the Salvation Army Corps Band, and also includes the Mayor at the time greeting one of Australia’s most successful athletes, Olympian Shirley Strickland.
Shakey said his inspiration for the mural came when he first saw the archival photographs from the celebrations.
“Looking through those images, I was drawn to the energy of the streets – the crowd, the marching band, the shopfronts, the sense of pride and community. I didn’t want to simply recreate a historical photo, but rather piece together multiple moments from the era to create a mural that feels alive – almost like stepping back into Subiaco in 1952,” he said.
“A big part of the inspiration was also the Salvation Army and their ongoing presence at the site through The Third Place. I was inspired by their story and wanted to connect that history of service and community with their present-day location.”
The mural is expected to take a few more weeks to complete, but in the meantime, plenty of visitors, residents, and business owners have popped by to see it take shape.
“The reaction has been amazing. A couple recently stopped by and shared stories about remembering the Salvation Army at the Subiaco Hotel, how much they loved hearing the band play on the local street corner and how tall and proud they stood,” he said.
“That’s probably been the most rewarding part so far – seeing people emotionally reconnect with the history of the area through the artwork. Even people who don’t know the exact historical references seem drawn into the atmosphere of it.”
Stay tuned on the City’s Facebook page for further updates about the mural, and other public art updates around the City.