Two murals will be painted at the Memorial Gardens in Violet Town dedicated to those who died more than 50 years ago in the Southern Aurora train crash.Strathbogie Shire Council allocated a $5000 grant to the memorial committee at its recent monthly meeting.
One mural will depict the Southern Aurora train at Sydney Central the night before the tragedy and includes passengers, train crew and onlookers.
Southern Aurora Memorial Committee chairperson Gary Abley said the second mural would be at the back of the gardens depicting scenes of the crash using inspiration from photos supplied by a local historian.
Mr Abley said the work would be in black and white, acknowledging the sensitivity of the incident.
“It won't be over the top but it will tell the story,” he said.
“While most of it will be in black and white there might be some colour dropped into different spots.”
Mr Abley said the committee decided to utilise two black fences that added privacy to neighbouring residents and areas.
No dates have been set for the murals to be painted but Mr Abley said both should be completed by June 30.
The committee is hoping the mural can be the start of the gateway to public artwork including the silo art trail north of the town.
During the recent council meeting, Mayor Chris Raeburn said the committee was doing a "marvellous" job developing the gardens.
“That area is becoming a tourist attraction and it's unbelievable the amount of people who do stop and go and walk around that area,” he said.
“The amount of people . . . that come to Violet Town to walk around and look at the carriage — it's phenomenal what it has done for helping people whose family was involved back in 1969.
“I believe the person who will be painting this (Tim Bowtell) is a very reputable person. He did the Colbinabbin silos, so this will be very good."
The Southern Aurora train crash occurred on February 7, 1969. Nine people died and 117 people were injured.