Newtown Street Murals Walking Tour (Self Guided), Sydney
Whenever you think of street art in Sydney, one suburb immediately springs to mind and that is Newtown. Largely regarded as Sydney’s coolest neighborhood, this is a ground zero of the city's mural art scene.
Ever since the early 1990s, with the appearance of the famous “I Have a Dream” Mural on King Street, a powerful depiction of Martin Luther King Junior's iconic speech, this area has been attracting artists with a message, adding a colorful coat of paint to its walls.
Nearby, the "Africa" Mural pays homage to the rich cultural heritage of the continent, with its vibrant palette celebrating African diversity.
The "Live Outside" Mural encourages viewers to embrace the outdoors and reconnect with nature amid the bustling city. It's a tribute to the importance of our environment.
On the other hand, the "Hide and Seek" Mural adds an element of whimsy to the street, inviting passersby to engage in a playful game of imagination.
The "Wyrd Sisters" Mural by Ox King showcases the talent of local artists with their unique styles and narratives.
In the same vein, "The Emperor’s Daughter" Mural narrates a captivating story through its visuals, inviting viewers to interpret its meaning and engage in a dialogue with the artwork.
Finally, "The Housing Bubble" Mural tackles contemporary issues, raising awareness about the housing crisis and its impact on the community.
If you want to get away from the steel skyscrapers and explore a quaint and funky suburb with some of Sydney’s most prominent murals, take a stroll through Newtown on this self-guided tour and admire its captivating wall paintings!
Ever since the early 1990s, with the appearance of the famous “I Have a Dream” Mural on King Street, a powerful depiction of Martin Luther King Junior's iconic speech, this area has been attracting artists with a message, adding a colorful coat of paint to its walls.
Nearby, the "Africa" Mural pays homage to the rich cultural heritage of the continent, with its vibrant palette celebrating African diversity.
The "Live Outside" Mural encourages viewers to embrace the outdoors and reconnect with nature amid the bustling city. It's a tribute to the importance of our environment.
On the other hand, the "Hide and Seek" Mural adds an element of whimsy to the street, inviting passersby to engage in a playful game of imagination.
The "Wyrd Sisters" Mural by Ox King showcases the talent of local artists with their unique styles and narratives.
In the same vein, "The Emperor’s Daughter" Mural narrates a captivating story through its visuals, inviting viewers to interpret its meaning and engage in a dialogue with the artwork.
Finally, "The Housing Bubble" Mural tackles contemporary issues, raising awareness about the housing crisis and its impact on the community.
If you want to get away from the steel skyscrapers and explore a quaint and funky suburb with some of Sydney’s most prominent murals, take a stroll through Newtown on this self-guided tour and admire its captivating wall paintings!
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Newtown Street Murals Walking Tour Map
Guide Name: Newtown Street Murals Walking Tour
Guide Location: Australia » Sydney (See other walking tours in Sydney)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 7
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles
Author: DanaOffice
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
Guide Location: Australia » Sydney (See other walking tours in Sydney)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 7
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles
Author: DanaOffice
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
- "I Have a Dream" Mural
- "Africa" Mural
- "Live Outside" Mural
- "Hide and Seek" Mural
- "Wyrd Sisters" Mural. Ox King
- "The Emperor’s Daughter" Mural
- "The Housing Bubble" Mural
1) "I Have a Dream" Mural
The “I Have a Dream” mural is one of Sydney’s most recognisable works of public art. It was created over two nights in August 1991 by artists Juilee Pryor and Andrew Aiken after formal permission was refused—an audacious act completed with a borrowed cherry picker and about a thousand dollars’ worth of paint. Their collective, Unmitigated Audacity Productions, intended the work as a gift to the community and a humanist statement amid early-’90s debates about public art.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s face faces the street beside the phrase “I have a dream”, while a painted view of the Earth evokes the famous Apollo photograph. Along the lower wall runs a quotation adapted from Genesis—“Behold, the dreamer cometh…”—and, in later years, an Aboriginal flag motif was added, linking civil-rights aspirations across continents to Australia’s own conversations about justice and identity.
Despite weathering and even fire damage to part of the wall in 2011, the piece has been carefully restored and remains one of the area’s longest-surviving large murals. In December 2014 it was formally heritage-listed by the former Marrickville Council—recognition of its cultural value and an assurance that future generations will see it much as you do today.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s face faces the street beside the phrase “I have a dream”, while a painted view of the Earth evokes the famous Apollo photograph. Along the lower wall runs a quotation adapted from Genesis—“Behold, the dreamer cometh…”—and, in later years, an Aboriginal flag motif was added, linking civil-rights aspirations across continents to Australia’s own conversations about justice and identity.
Despite weathering and even fire damage to part of the wall in 2011, the piece has been carefully restored and remains one of the area’s longest-surviving large murals. In December 2014 it was formally heritage-listed by the former Marrickville Council—recognition of its cultural value and an assurance that future generations will see it much as you do today.
2) "Africa" Mural
Don’t miss the bold and expressive “Africa” Mural, stretching across the side wall of an African restaurant. It was first painted in the early 1990s, based on a vintage map reproduced by the Australian firm Chas. Scally & Co., likely dating from the 1960s.
In the early 2000s, it was refreshed and reimagined, reflecting the changing political boundaries and identities of African nations. Beyond its artistic merit, the mural is a symbol of cultural connection in Newtown’s rich tapestry of street art. The suburb has long been known for its bold walls and expressive visual storytelling, where murals tackle identity, politics, memory, and community.
In the early 2000s, it was refreshed and reimagined, reflecting the changing political boundaries and identities of African nations. Beyond its artistic merit, the mural is a symbol of cultural connection in Newtown’s rich tapestry of street art. The suburb has long been known for its bold walls and expressive visual storytelling, where murals tackle identity, politics, memory, and community.
3) "Live Outside" Mural
The “Live Outside” mural bursts with colour and creativity, making it a standout feature in Newtown’s street-art scene. Completed in 2017, it was part of Jansport’s “Live Outside” campaign, an initiative developed by the design firm Teak SF. The work was created through the combined talent of artists Shannon Crees, George Rose, and Ruskidd, who transformed the wall into a vivid expression of movement, energy, and outdoor spirit.
The imagery suggests the interplay between nature and city — a reminder to breathe, wander, and embrace the outdoors even within the urban grid. For the visitor, “Live Outside” captures a lighter, spirited side of Newtown’s mural culture. Because it’s tucked into a car park space, you’re less likely to pass by it unnoticed.
The imagery suggests the interplay between nature and city — a reminder to breathe, wander, and embrace the outdoors even within the urban grid. For the visitor, “Live Outside” captures a lighter, spirited side of Newtown’s mural culture. Because it’s tucked into a car park space, you’re less likely to pass by it unnoticed.
4) "Hide and Seek" Mural
The “Hide and Seek” mural, created by Australian artist Kyle Hughes-Odgers, is a striking example of his signature storytelling through geometric forms and muted tones. Painted on the side of a house at the corner of Mary Street and Lennox Street in Newtown, the mural depicts a giant figure interacting with three small children. The children cleverly hide in the giant’s pocket, giving the piece a playful and slightly surreal quality. This imaginative scene captures both innocence and whimsy, rendered in the artist’s distinct, stylized manner that blends narrative and abstraction.
Hughes-Odgers is known for transforming ordinary walls into scenes that explore human relationships and everyday wonder. In “Hide and Seek,” his simplified shapes and textured colors lend the figures a quiet expressiveness. The composition invites viewers to notice small details—the curve of the giant’s hand, the tiny feet of the children peeking from the pocket—and to consider the gentle humor within the interaction.
Positioned in Newtown, a suburb known for its vibrant street art and creative culture, the mural fits naturally into the neighborhood’s visual rhythm. It has become a familiar landmark for locals and a point of curiosity for visitors walking through the area.
Hughes-Odgers is known for transforming ordinary walls into scenes that explore human relationships and everyday wonder. In “Hide and Seek,” his simplified shapes and textured colors lend the figures a quiet expressiveness. The composition invites viewers to notice small details—the curve of the giant’s hand, the tiny feet of the children peeking from the pocket—and to consider the gentle humor within the interaction.
Positioned in Newtown, a suburb known for its vibrant street art and creative culture, the mural fits naturally into the neighborhood’s visual rhythm. It has become a familiar landmark for locals and a point of curiosity for visitors walking through the area.
5) "Wyrd Sisters" Mural. Ox King
The “Wyrd Sisters” mural by Ox King is a striking piece of street art located in Newtown, one of Sydney’s most vibrant creative districts. The mural draws inspiration from folklore and myth, reinterpreting the image of the three witches—or “wyrd sisters”—as powerful, otherworldly figures.
Painted across a large urban wall, the work features vivid colors, intricate linework, and layered textures that merge fantasy with contemporary symbolism. Each figure has distinct features and expressions, suggesting wisdom, mystery, and connection to fate.
Ox King, a Sydney-based street artist known for his narrative-driven murals, often explores themes of mythology, spirituality, and transformation. In this piece, his style blends realism with surrealism, using glowing highlights and deep shadows to create a sense of movement and depth.
The figures appear both ancient and modern, rooted in the mythology of the Fates while resonating with ideas of identity and strength. The bold composition captures attention from a distance, while close viewing reveals subtle details—ornate patterns, celestial motifs, and the interplay of light and color.
Set within Newtown’s evolving landscape of public art, the “Wyrd Sisters” mural adds to the neighborhood’s ongoing dialogue between past and present. It stands as a testament to Sydney’s thriving street art culture, where mythology meets modern storytelling.
Painted across a large urban wall, the work features vivid colors, intricate linework, and layered textures that merge fantasy with contemporary symbolism. Each figure has distinct features and expressions, suggesting wisdom, mystery, and connection to fate.
Ox King, a Sydney-based street artist known for his narrative-driven murals, often explores themes of mythology, spirituality, and transformation. In this piece, his style blends realism with surrealism, using glowing highlights and deep shadows to create a sense of movement and depth.
The figures appear both ancient and modern, rooted in the mythology of the Fates while resonating with ideas of identity and strength. The bold composition captures attention from a distance, while close viewing reveals subtle details—ornate patterns, celestial motifs, and the interplay of light and color.
Set within Newtown’s evolving landscape of public art, the “Wyrd Sisters” mural adds to the neighborhood’s ongoing dialogue between past and present. It stands as a testament to Sydney’s thriving street art culture, where mythology meets modern storytelling.
6) "The Emperor’s Daughter" Mural
“The Emperor’s Daughter” mural adds a vivid sci-fi note to Sydney’s inner-west mural trail, facing the street with cinematic scale and easily spotted as you wander. Painted in 2015 by the artist known as As One, the work takes its cue from Frank Herbert’s Dune universe.
As One described it as “my version of the Emperor’s daughter, Irulan, from the Dune novels, getting loaded on spice gas as the Harkonnen’s invade.”
Visually, the mural balances a central figure with a rush of stylised forms and avian motifs, set against cool blues and inky purples that ripple like a storm front.
As One described it as “my version of the Emperor’s daughter, Irulan, from the Dune novels, getting loaded on spice gas as the Harkonnen’s invade.”
Visually, the mural balances a central figure with a rush of stylised forms and avian motifs, set against cool blues and inky purples that ripple like a storm front.
7) "The Housing Bubble" Mural
“The Housing Bubble” mural is a large-scale work by artist Fintan Magee, known for his socially conscious and emotionally charged street art. Painted on the side of a building in the inner-west suburb of Newtown, the mural depicts a young couple floating above the ground inside a transparent bubble, surrounded by a cityscape that seems distant and unreachable.
The imagery evokes the tension and fragility of urban living, particularly the challenges of housing affordability in Australia’s major cities.
Magee’s painterly style combines realism with metaphor. The bubble, rendered with delicate light and shadow, gives a sense of both protection and isolation. The figures within it appear weightless yet trapped, suggesting the emotional and economic pressures that come with chasing the dream of home ownership. The muted tones and soft textures lend the scene a quiet melancholy, while the monumental scale ensures it commands attention from passersby.
As with much of Magee’s work, “The Housing Bubble” reflects on broader social issues through intimate human moments. His use of everyday subjects in surreal situations turns city walls into visual commentaries that invite reflection. In this mural, the juxtaposition of beauty and unease mirrors the contradictions of modern urban life—aspiration shadowed by anxiety.
The imagery evokes the tension and fragility of urban living, particularly the challenges of housing affordability in Australia’s major cities.
Magee’s painterly style combines realism with metaphor. The bubble, rendered with delicate light and shadow, gives a sense of both protection and isolation. The figures within it appear weightless yet trapped, suggesting the emotional and economic pressures that come with chasing the dream of home ownership. The muted tones and soft textures lend the scene a quiet melancholy, while the monumental scale ensures it commands attention from passersby.
As with much of Magee’s work, “The Housing Bubble” reflects on broader social issues through intimate human moments. His use of everyday subjects in surreal situations turns city walls into visual commentaries that invite reflection. In this mural, the juxtaposition of beauty and unease mirrors the contradictions of modern urban life—aspiration shadowed by anxiety.
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