CELEBRATING 40 years of artistic expression, the Shire of Mundaring is presenting a selection of artworks acquired between 1986 and 2026 responding to the natural and cultivated environment of the Perth Hills.

The exhibition, titled ‘Marks for Mundaring’, showcases works from local artists who have documented the artistic and cultural shifts of the Shire of Mundaring.

Featuring prominent artists such as Mac Betts, Philippa O’Brien, Robert Birch, Nicholas Compton, and Hans Arkeveld, the event highlights the region’s creative evolution from acquiring the first piece of art four decades ago to today.

The collection explores deep-rooted themes of place, ownership, and belonging with the local landscape.

The title itself, Marks for Mundaring, pays homage to a series of quilted banners created by the community in 1985.

The banners were created for the inaugural Shire of Mundaring Invitation Craft exhibition, which eventually led to the first acquisitions’ exhibition in 1986.

Since then, the partnership between the Shire of Mundaring and the Mundaring Arts Centre has supported dozens of local craftspeople and painters.

Alongside the established collection, visitors can view the archival ephemera and publications that offer a behind-the-scenes look at the shire’s cultural history.

For those looking to support the local art scene directly, new works by participating collection artists will be available for purchase.

To celebrate the 40-year milestone, the gallery is hosting an exhibition floor talk involving several of the featured creators.

Tickets for the talk are $5 and provides a unique chance for the public to learn about the motivations behind the work while engaging with the artists who shaped the Perth Hills artistic identity.

The exhibition will be hosted at the Mundaring Arts Centre at 7190 Great Eastern Highway, Mundaring from Saturday, April 11 to Sunday, June 14.

For more information on the exhibition and the subsequent floor talk, visit the Mundaring Arts Centre website.