Your Neighbourhood Budget brightens Tusmore Park

Sometimes you can find beauty in unexpected places, and thanks to the Your Neighbourhood Budget funding and the artistic touch of a Burnside native, the Tusmore Park toilet block has gone from grey and gloomy to purple and proud.

As part of the 2023/24 Your Neighbourhood Budget, six projects around the City of Burnside were approved following public voting. One of which was the commissioning of a mural to be painted on the exterior walls of the toilet block on the eastern side of Tusmore Park, near the tennis courts.

Genevieve Byrt of Gen + Tonic Art who submitted the Your Neighbourhood Budget project proposal, was the artist to bring the space to life.

Born and raised just a few doors down from Tusmore Park along Northumberland Street, Genevieve, now in her 30s, said the park has maintained a special place in her heart ever since her childhood days in the wading pool.

‘I love the idea that my future kids will be able to come down here and see something I have created and be in a welcoming space,’ Gen said.

‘I grew up around the corner and I’ve spent a lot of time in this park, so it was really important to me that I painted something that was not only going to be engaging for people to watch being painted but to also come and enjoy on a regular basis.

‘For a space that is so heavily involved in the community and so many families and children around - I wanted to try and ignite energy and joyfulness. I suggested the project as part of Your Neighbourhood Budget and one thing led to another and it was approved.’

Composed of bright purples and blues, the mural design was created to reflect elements of the Burnside area. Featuring native flora and fauna and highlighted by a striking wave through the middle that represents the Burnside creek system. Come have a look yourself and see if you can identify all the symbols of Burnside.

Painted towards the end of January in near 40-degree heat, Tusmore Park was teeming with hundreds of visitors taking advantage of the wading pool. Gen said community feedback from those at the pool had been overwhelmingly positive.

‘I’ve met so many people who travel from all over Adelaide to come to this spot – the wading pool especially is such a great resource for kids. Everyone has loved the mural, especially the kids.

‘Seeing art in public spaces is not only interesting and exciting, but it shows young people and other community members that art doesn’t have to be in a gallery and you can create interesting spaces that are engaging to be in.’

In total the mural took around 60 litres of paint and roughly 35 hours across four days to complete.

2024/25 Your Neighbourhood Budget submissions are now open to all City of Burnside residents. To submit your suggestion for the 2024/25 Your Neighbourhood Budget, head to https://engage.burnside.sa.gov.au/your-neighbourhood-budget-2024

Artist Genevieve Byrt

full mural design