Dartbrook Signal Station Mural

As you journey towards Murrurundi, you'll come across colourful murals adorning signal stations along the railway line. This initiative stemmed from the efforts of local railway worker Justine Witney, who was dismayed by the graffiti covering signal boxes and decided to take action. Collaborating with the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), and the local community, artist Jack Wachtel and his team Binary Creative were enlisted to create designs for murals to adorn the signal and communications box in Dartbrook, New South Wales, part of the Hunter Valley Network railway. Researching local flora and fauna, the artists incorporated elements such as blue wrens, finches, and Willie Wagtails into their artworks. This transformation of the signal station took place in 2018. Jack Wachtel originally hails from Murrurundi and is a practicing mural artist and illustrator now based in Thailand. He is the Creative Director of Binary Creative and has undertaken creative commissions all over the world. Jack is responsible for four of the signal/weigh stations across the Upper Hunter region, including Blandford, Murulla and Willow Tree.