Incredible mural revealed on Glenside’s historic water tower

The finishing touches are being done on a large-scale mural on SA Water’s heritage-listed Glenside water tower, marking a significant step toward completing the transformation of one of Adelaide’s eastern suburbs’ most recognisable landmarks.

The mural draws on native South Australian flora and fauna and covers more than 1,000 square metres of the tower’s exterior.

Adelaide artist Sam Brooks supported by Adelaide Hills artist Taylr Jay, and rural artists Althea and Glen Gearing completed the entire piece by hand after the enclosed scaffolding setup made spray-painting impractical.

To guide the design, the surface of the tower was divided into 290 individual squares, all of which needed to align with millimetre accuracy, with more than 400 litres of paint used to bring the artwork to life.

Sam said the physical constraints of the site created a unique and challenging working environment.

“Working on the tower has felt a bit like assembling a jigsaw puzzle blindfolded, because I couldn’t step back and see how the sections were coming together until parts of the scaffolding were removed,” he said.

“Every square had to be completed in isolation, so it’s been a very careful and methodical process, which has taught me new skills, and I’ve enjoyed the different method.”

The mural design, with the tower taking on the appearance of a textured tree trunk, supported by detailed bird and butterfly imagery.

“We often see the same themes repeated in art that tries to be the brightest and most bold thing, but what I find so beautiful about this mural is that it reflects nature,” he said.

“Nature is quite subtle and in this mural I have tried to respect the intelligence and gentle beauty of nature, and I hope people can appreciate that. In art, like in life, not everything needs to be an over-the-top action movie.”

SA Water together with major framework partner McConnell Dowell Diona joint venture undertook restoration work on the surface of the tower ahead of the painting, which unlocked the potential and provided the opportune time for the artwork.

Scaffolding had surrounded the tower throughout the project, providing safe access for the restoration and painting work, however, the mesh enclosure means only small portions of the artwork have been visible during the process.

It has since been removed which has allowed Sam to see the mural in full for the first time, with final touches being applied around the base of the tower.

SA Water Manager Brand and Community Connection Kellie McDonald said the organisation has been encouraged by the community’s interest in the project.

“The Glenside tower is a sentimental landmark for many people and an important part of SA Water’s history,” Kellie said.

“This artwork adds another chapter to that story, creating something the community can continue to recognise and enjoy for many years to come.

“It’s a subtle but powerful feature that will stand proudly as a lasting landmark for both the local community and SA Water.”

The water tower was built in 1945 and played a key role in water storage and distribution until 2013 when it was disconnected from the network, which was then fed by other sources in the metropolitan network, ensuring continuity of supply.

It secured heritage status in 2005 in a nod to its role in early water security and as a landmark on Adelaide’s skyline.

Sam said having Taylr, Althea and Glen work with him on the project was a “big factor” in its success.

“Taylr is a great example for everyone in the arts, and having rural artists Althea and Glen on the project was an awesome and rare opportunity to mentor artists on a larger scale,” he said.