ALEX Scott’s gift to Wonthaggi of an historic mural, on the wall of their former office in Graham Street, is starting to take shape in the Wonthaggi Workmen’s Carpark.
The scene, which features a timeline of Wonthaggi’s early history, through the tent town, coal mining and the development of the town’s commercial centre, also offers a discrete nod to the company’s founder, Alex Scott.
“It’s my understanding, and you’d have to ask someone better acquainted with the history of the company than me, that Alex Scott at one time helped supply pit ponies to the mines here in Wonthaggi,” said Alex Scott and Staff branch manager at Wonthaggi, Dan Huther, who’s taken charge of the project.
You can already see the pit ponies starting to emerge from the brick wall under the practiced hands of two of the state’s best muralists, Brigitte Dawson and Melissa Turner of Melbourne's Murals.
Of course, the pit ponies used in the mines hold a special place in the hearts of all those connected with Wonthaggi coal mining, and their families.
“We had that old red wall there, which local people will know, where the signwriting was getting a bit tatty, and I said to Paul (Dunlop Chief Executive Officer) that we really needed to repaint it,” said Mr Huther this week.
“I spoke to him about Jimmy Dvate's incredible birds on the side of Connell's Bakery and we discussed doing an historic mural.
“I’ve always been interested in the history of the area, with my uncle running South Gippsland Motors for all those years, and I thought we could focus a bit more on the commercial history of the town.
“We’ve also got those historic photos of the tent town and the mining days produced by Trevor Foon in our office and we thought a stylised timeline would be suitable.”
Mr Huther said he engaged Melbourne's Murals after seeing some stunning examples of their work, took advice from some former Wonthaggi traders and the likes of the General Manager at Wonthaggi Workmens Club, Rod Bye, where there’s a significant tribute to the town’s mining days, and settled on a design.
“We’ve incorporated a few things in it about the town, like Knox Brothers hardware store, which was on that site for many years, and we’ve also put our own office in there, but it’s only a small part of it.
“We had hoped to finish it this week but the weather’s obviously intervened.
“We’ll have some kind of launch later, at the Workmen’s Club, and get a few people to come along to explain what it’s about but it’s certainly going to be a big improvement on that red wall, that’s for sure.”
Alex Scott and Staff is paying for the whole project, but they’ve thanked the Bass Coast Shire Council for their cooperation while the painting process goes on.