Gwada Murals Martin Jegou transforms Goanna Brewing’s new venue

A Caribbean artist who repainted the beloved Big Mango, as well as over a hundred other murals in the region, has revealed one of his biggest works to date at the new venue of a popular brewery.

A new era for a popular regional brewery has begun with a series of stunning murals by a Caribbean artist based in the Whitsundays who repainted the Big Mango.

Martin Jegou grew up doing graffiti in abandoned resorts on the islands of Guadeloupe, but has now been a professional artist based in Airlie Beach as Gwada Murals for four years.

Now he has completed one of his largest works ever at Goanna Brewing’s new 800 sqm venue on Victoria St, where the owners proclaimed him “the new Banksy”.

Gwada Murals artist Martin Jegou in front of the huge goanna mural at the new Goanna Brewing venue at 2c Victoria St in 2024. Photo: Zoe Devenport

Mr Jegou said if Banksy’s art exposed social issues, his focused on the beauty of the Greater Whitsunday region with many of his murals featuring native wildlife.

“(The wildlife murals) are to show how lucky we are to have this around us, you know, and how it’s important to preserve it as well and take care of it,” he said.

“Because where I’m from, we don’t.

Gwada Murals artist Martin Jegou spray painted a huge goanna at the new Goanna Brewing venue at 2c Victoria St in 2024. Photo: Zoe Devenport

“We’re not lucky as lucky to have that much wildlife around us ... there’s been a lot of species that just vanished over the years.

“I’ve got a little girl, she was born here and I’m so happy that she’s going to evolve in such a beautiful place, full of life.”

The biggest piece shows a huge lifelike goanna among brewing tanks and a cockatoo, while an interior mural of an Indigenous girl flows around the interior walls.

An interior mural at Goanna Brewing’s new venue on Victoria St was designed to pay tribute to the region’s Indigenous peoples using the colours of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags. Photo: Martin Jegou

At the entrance to the taproom a hops plant grows out of the concrete and drips into a tall glass of beer — but Mr Jegou said to expect even more as the venue continues setting up.

The new Goanna Brewing site is across from Red Dog Brewery, but owners Kerri Donnelly and Aneurin ‘Nye’ Williams said the proximity only opened more doors for Mackay.

Goanna Brewing owners Kerri Donnelly and Aneurin ‘Nye’ Williamsnext to a hops and beer mural by Gwada Murals' Martin Jegou at the new venue at 2c Victoria St in 2024. Photo: Zoe Devenport

They hope to get permits to close the end of Victoria St for concerts or Eat Street events with food trucks for people to enjoy the fruits of both breweries.

“We want to be there when there’s good things on and we want to instigate good things,” Mr Williams said.

Canned beers by Goanna Brewing. Photo: Zoe Devenport

With a taproom, grain room, outdoor seating, and a massive small batch brewing facility, the new venue is expansive but differentiates itself from Red Dog by still focusing on providing equipment for home brewers.

“Our tap rooms open on Friday nights (but) this is a function space for more special occasion type scenarios,” Ms Donnelly said.

Owner Aneurin "Nye" Williams in the grain room of the new Goanna Brewing venue at 2c Victoria St. Photo: Zoe Devenport

While the storefront is open to customers and members, Goanna Brewing will be planning a more formal launch for the new venue after setup ends.

The couple had met Mr Jegou two years ago and, knowing he had been painting over a hundred murals mostly for businesses, commissioned him to spice up their new venue.

“Obviously, the bigger the more impressive it can be and the more noticeable it can be for locals and tourists,” Mr Williams said.

“It just gives some colour to our region.”