Wellington Dam Mural – Ferguson Valley

Just out of Bunbury, a journey to the Wellington Dam and through the Ferguson Valley is one to remember, leading to an enormous mural called one of the biggest in the world. It also features an impressive backdrop of rolling hills with grazing cattle, meandering streams, misty mornings and astounding autumn colours.

When we drive along steep, winding roads, the views are bound to take your breath away.

Enjoy local art and taste the local produce, one of the finest in Australia.

Itinerary – One Day Tour – Ferguson Valley

The Ferguson Valley Tour starts at the car park next to the Gosnells Bowling Club, 2271 Albany Highway, Gosnells WA 6110 at 7.50 am.

As soon as we leave Armadale, we wind our way through the green pastures of the South West Highway with beautiful scenic views to Harvey for morning tea on the balcony of the replica Stirling Cottage, overlooking the Harvey River. You can take your time to view the May Gibbs gumnut display in the visitor centre and afterwards enjoy the beautiful gardens and the mini orchard. Maybe you are lucky to spot a Pacific Black Duck or a Pale Flecked Garden Sunskink!

After a quirky side-trip to visit Gnomesville, home to over 3000 gnomes of all shapes and sizes, meet the majestic King Jarrah, an ancient 36-metre timber giant, ruling over the surrounding marri, yarri and jarrah forests of Wellington National Park – 17000-hectare camping, fishing, swimming, canoeing, rafting, mountain biking and bushwalking playground. King Jarrah offers a chance to view the tallest jarrah tree in the park. It is estimated to be between 300 and 500 years old. The tree has survived bush fires, storms, lighting and insect attack.

Guido van Helton painted the Wellington Dam Mural In 2021, an 8000 square metre mural on the dam wall, titled “Reflections”. It took four months to complete and features images of Collie mines workers, families playing in the water, Aboriginal children and other scenes taken from actual photographs of Collie’s history. With the $1.5M dam mural project coming under budget, an extra 19 murals were recently added to the trail, totalling 40 works, all done by WA artists. The team behind the mural’s commissioning and development believe it to be the world’s most giant dam wall mural. But Van Helten said that while the mural had been described as the largest of its type, it had not been his reason to paint it. “I don’t want it to be just about that,” he said. “Size doesn’t’ matter. It’s about how well it was executed.”

Up-coming Day Tours to Ferguson Valley