Artist Simon White in front of the impressive mural rekindling something of the town’s past and greeting people entering Bunyip is flanked by local drivers of the project Davina Veenstra (left) and Cherie Johnson. Photo: Roman Kulkewycz.
An eye-catching and traffic stopping addition is welcoming people to the Bunyip shopping area.
A mural that recounts an important part of Bunyip’s history now covers the western wall of the IGA building.
Artist Simon White, who has painted numerous murals around country Victoria in recent years, used a photograph taken in 1905 to paint a life-size picture of the Pearson and Co. timber yard, seed and grain store and iron monger’s workshop established in Bunyip at the start of the 20th century.
Mr White offered his services in response to an approach by Bunyip Social Club members Cherie Johnson and Davina Veenstra whose local fundraising brought in $6000 to have the mural become a reality.
The Pearson premises was a landmark in Bunyip until the prominent site just north of the railway line was cleared several years ago.
It was established by Charles Pearson, a carpenter by trade, who’d moved with his wife Blanche and four of what was to become a family of six children, to Tonimbuk in 1893 to establish an orchard.
The second son Frederick Francis Pearson was among the Anzacs killed during the landing at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915.
Not too many years after arriving at Tonimbuk, Charles Pearson set up the business in the town which served essential lock needs supplying timber for houses, sheds and building, fencing, grain and seed and pots, pans and kettles for people in Bunyip and the surrounding area.
The premises was later bought by Permewan Wright and, in more recent years, became Bunyip Home Timber and Hardware.
