Painting the town red
26 Sep 2017
It’s not often you see someone painting the town red, or get the chance to look down laneways and see scaffolding supporting a young man or woman going to town with spray cans – and not in an illegal way. We are not looking at urban vandals here; we are seeing the artists of the 21st century.
Recently, in the very tidy town of Toowoomba in Queensland’s South East, the First Coat Art and Music Festival was held for the fourth year in a row. The event has been a resounding triumph for artists (local and invited from interstate and overseas), art lovers and the town itself.
For decades Toowoomba has had an impeccable reputation as an example of classic Federation buildings, wide streets laced with charming emporiums and chic boutiques, a respected university, and gardens so fine that folk come to immerse themselves in their beauty every year. The town has a comfortable sense of success, honouring its benefactor agriculture.
And now Toowoomba has amped up its street cred with First Coat. And judging by the ages of the people doing the weekend rounds of backstreets and lanes – everyone from young families to artsy students, to the older set – are lapping it up as happily as they do the annual flower festival.
This year’s First Coat got off to a damp start on the Friday, and rain is not the wall artist’s friend. With damp air and paint on the run, the artists did as much as they could before heading for the launch party. And as the sun shone through on a beautiful Saturday, the walls of downtown Toowoomba came alive with more than 26 new murals emerging. From glorious plumed birds, to abstract, bold graphic images, to social comment, to lifelike and larger than life-sized portraits, to animals and beautiful shapes emerging… the walls spoke.
This year’s festival was filled with workshops, gatherings, talks, music and the wonderful world of wall art. First Coat’s momentum in Toowoomba of an outdoor art gallery for everyone has excited the region and given people the opportunity to celebrate the spirit of creativity.
Keen to check out some of Toowoomba’s magnificent street art?
Getting there
If you aren’t driving (it’s a 90-minute drive from Brisbane), it’s best to fly in. Toowoomba’s Wellcamp Airport is an architecturally snazzy regional airport, and you can fly in from Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney or Cairns. Qantaslink flew the writer from Sydney to Toowoomba.
Stay at
Potters Hotel, Toowoomba is quality accommodation with an excellent restaurant for breakfast and great evening dining. It’s a stone’s throw from the newly refurbished Grand Central Shopping Centre, two minutes walk from the CBD and a 15-minute drive to Wellcamp Airport.
Visit: www.pottershoteltoowoomba.com.au
Eat at
Junk is the hotspot for brilliant Asian food.
The Bakers Duck has brilliant buttery pastries and superb bread. Get there early on a Saturday morning and soak up the aroma of butter and happiness.
http://restaurantsnapshot.com/TheBakersDuck/
The Office has all things gourmet – fish, fowl, and meat with flair. After dinner head to The Chelsea (behind The Office) for an exotic cocktail or two.
http://worldwidehospitalitygroup.com.au/our-brands/the-office/
Or for something a little more casual, Artisan Pizza will fill you up.
Don’t miss
Take a tour of the architectural wonder that is the historical Empire Theatre; stroll through Queens Park; and try the various cafes along the main streets and in laneways – the coffee’s darn good in Toowoomba!
More information, visit: http://www.southernqueenslandcountry.com.au/destinations/toowoomba
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