News Coming Soon on the Kirup Fire Station Mural
From the March 2026 Preston Press
AN EYE catching mural painted on the Kirup Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade (BFB) building on South Western Highway hopes to act as a traffic slowing device as vehicles enter the town.
The Kirup Community Association Inc (KCA) received $20,000 as an election commitment by Collie Preston MLA Jodie Hanns for the unique road safety initiative. KCA president Leanne Wringe said Kirup residents had tried to get the 60km speed limit through the town centre changed for many years without success.
“We asked about other options available to slow down drivers as they pass through Kirup, and we were awarded the mural funding under the State government’s small grants program 2025,” she said.
“The KCA worked with the community to identify three main themes to be included in the mural design, which were the environment, the community and our volunteer emergency services.
“The artist Shakey (Jacob Butler) came up with a few concepts based around these themes and a photograph of the forest behind the Kirup fire shed
“The community then had further input, including adding a blue tree as a mental health message and local flora and fauna, before finalising the design,” she said.
Shakey, and his assistant Joe, painted the mural in four-and-a-half days in February.
Kirup Volunteer BFB secretary Mick Zwart said he had seen dozens of cars stopping near the mural, with people taking photos of Shakey’s artwork.
“With the birds and animals included in the mural, children can play ‘hunt and seek’ as they try to locate a number of different creatures,” he said.
During the question time at the community town hall event held when the State Cabinet visited Donnybrook on Sunday 8 February, Leanne Wringe thanked Premier Roger Cook for the mural grant, but added speeding traffic was still a major concern for the Kirup community.
The Regional Development minister Stephen Dawson spoke with Leanne after the meeting and pledged to follow up the traffic concerns with the KCA.
Kirup resident Peter Snell said when heading south on South Western Highway through the township of Kirup, the 60km zone starts only 120m from Kirup Primary School, which is also adjacent to the highway.
“Very few vehicles have slowed to 60km by the time they pass the school,” he said.
“There is also a dotted white line on the road through the centre of Kirup which means vehicles are allowed to overtake in the 60km zone, despite it being a built-up area, and many do overtake trucks in excess of the speed limit.
“Residents see a lot of tailgating and speeding through the centre of town, which is where the post office and Kirup Hotel are located and where children walk to school or the Mill Park,” he said.
AN EYE catching mural painted on the Kirup Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade (BFB) building on South Western Highway hopes to act as a traffic slowing device as vehicles enter the town.
The Kirup Community Association Inc (KCA) received $20,000 as an election commitment by Collie Preston MLA Jodie Hanns for the unique road safety initiative. KCA president Leanne Wringe said Kirup residents had tried to get the 60km speed limit through the town centre changed for many years without success.
“We asked about other options available to slow down drivers as they pass through Kirup, and we were awarded the mural funding under the State government’s small grants program 2025,” she said.
“The KCA worked with the community to identify three main themes to be included in the mural design, which were the environment, the community and our volunteer emergency services.
“The artist Shakey (Jacob Butler) came up with a few concepts based around these themes and a photograph of the forest behind the Kirup fire shed
“The community then had further input, including adding a blue tree as a mental health message and local flora and fauna, before finalising the design,” she said.
Shakey, and his assistant Joe, painted the mural in four-and-a-half days in February.
Kirup Volunteer BFB secretary Mick Zwart said he had seen dozens of cars stopping near the mural, with people taking photos of Shakey’s artwork.
“With the birds and animals included in the mural, children can play ‘hunt and seek’ as they try to locate a number of different creatures,” he said.
During the question time at the community town hall event held when the State Cabinet visited Donnybrook on Sunday 8 February, Leanne Wringe thanked Premier Roger Cook for the mural grant, but added speeding traffic was still a major concern for the Kirup community.
The Regional Development minister Stephen Dawson spoke with Leanne after the meeting and pledged to follow up the traffic concerns with the KCA.
Kirup resident Peter Snell said when heading south on South Western Highway through the township of Kirup, the 60km zone starts only 120m from Kirup Primary School, which is also adjacent to the highway.
“Very few vehicles have slowed to 60km by the time they pass the school,” he said.
“There is also a dotted white line on the road through the centre of Kirup which means vehicles are allowed to overtake in the 60km zone, despite it being a built-up area, and many do overtake trucks in excess of the speed limit.
“Residents see a lot of tailgating and speeding through the centre of town, which is where the post office and Kirup Hotel are located and where children walk to school or the Mill Park,” he said.