Acclaimed artist, pioneering photographer Alex Sugar, has been creating two stunning murals in Hanson Street in Corryong.

The artworks, commissioned by Towong Shire Council and developed by the community members leading the project, celebrate two meaningful Upper Murray themes:-

• Arnold Playle – A creative tribute to the man who with his glass negative camera captured the life and times of the Upper Murray during early settlement.
• Upper Murray Tourism – The beauty of our flora and fauna, the pure end of the Murray, exploration and recreation such as bushwalking and hang gliding.

The murals are located on the side wall of 33 Hanson Street (nearest the Courthouse Hotel) and at 55 Hanson Street on the western side wall of the Corryong Pharmacy.

The striking mural on the pharmacy wall is turning heads and warming hearts, as the community comes together to celebrate the life and legacy of Arnold Playle – an iconic figure in the Upper Murray’s rich history.

It beautifully captures Playle’s contribution as a pioneering photographer whose work documented life across the Upper Murray in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

His legacy continues to thrive through his many descendants who still call the Upper Murray home including his grandson John Whitehead, a respected member of the Corryong community known for his work in farming and local history preservation; and his great grandson Mark Whitehead, who has brought Playle’s original glass plate images into the digital age with stunning clarity and detail.

“Arnold Playle, as an early photographer, left an amazing legacy for the Upper Murray community with his set of glass plates taken in the late 1890s and early 1900s,” project steering group spokesperson said.

“It’s exciting that Arnold has been honoured with the mural on the pharmacy wall. Alex Sugar has created an exceptional artwork of Arnold alongside one of his original photos.”

The second mural is part of a broader initiative to celebrate the Upper Murray’s heritage through public art and is another captivating tribute to the region.

This article appeared in Corryong Courier, 26 June 2025.