Having lived in the area my entire life, this artwork is both a personal reflection and a tribute to place. My intention was to celebrate familiar local elements while allowing my own personality to shine through, with a gentle nod to Mount Gravatt as it once was, and my love for the local wildlife (hello, maggies).
The design draws inspiration from vintage travel posters, whose nostalgic charm and romantic idealism have long captivated me. These artworks have an innate ability to transport the viewer – not just geographically, but emotionally – and I wanted to evoke that same sense of wonder while spotlighting the iconic Mount Gravatt Lookout as an iconic landmark of the area.
A subtle tropical influence weaves through the piece, inspired by my lifelong love of summer, along with my love of another Queensland gem – Straddie, and my personal family history. My mother spent her childhood in Cairns, and growing up, my grandmother’s home was filled with tropical motifs she bought back from North Queensland with her. Palm and banana leaves, hibiscus and frangipanis are symbols of warmth, sunshine and slow, sundrenched days. These elements are reimagined here as visual cues of comfort and familiarity.
Through this work, I hope to offer viewers a moment of pause – a feeling of warmth, nostalgia and quiet pride – whether they know Mount Gravatt intimately or are seeing it through new eyes. It is an invitation to experience the area not just as a location, but as a memory, a mood, and a sense of belonging.
