Bundaberg, Australia Wyland Whaling Wall 23

History of the Bundaberg, AUS Wyland Whaling Wall 23

-Bundaberg Humpback Family

After completing the ceiling mural in Yamagata, Japan, Wyland embarked on a journey to paint his first Whaling Wall in the southern hemisphere. At the invitation of the City of Bundaberg, Australia, he spent a week creating one of his most acclaimed murals in the center of the city.

Because the mural would feature indigenous marine life, Wyland dived throughout the Great Barrier Reef to better prepare for the art to come. The mural was even more significant due to Bundaberg’s strategic location at the reef’s southern tip. Upon completing the mural, the city hosted the artist in a lighting ceremony that over 5,000 people attended. “It was the warmest reception I have ever received,” he says. “It seemed the entire community became involved in this project.”

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• When the mural was painted, Australia was building its reputation as a marine conservation leader. Australians were becoming more aware of the environmental issues surrounding them and taking increased action. Significant protections, like establishing the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, were already improving the reef’s health. Similar protections were enacted throughout the 1980s and 90s.
• While the protections managed to address issues like coral bleaching and industrial runoff, changes in sea temperatures from global warming continue to impact the Great Barrier Reef. Promoting understanding of these issues through art and science has been an important part of the Wyland Foundation’s work since its founding in 1993.

Whaling wall 23

Bundaberg, Australia
125 Feet Long x 95 Feet High
Dedicated September 28, 1990
By John Nielsen

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