Toowoomba council plans to demolish Hume Street building featuring public mural by Bradley Eastman, will create more parking

A building in the Toowoomba CBD sporting one of the city’s biggest murals by an acclaimed Sydney artist looks set to be demolished. Find out what is replacing it here:

One of the Toowoomba CBD’s largest and most high-profile public murals will be demolished by the council to make way for more parking.

Council lodged plans with its own planning department this week to knock down the structure known as “K block” at the parking lot on the corner of Hume and Julia Streets in Toowoomba City.

It’s understood the building was used by the SES in Toowoomba before moving into its new headquarters.

The building sports a massive mural by Sydney artist Bradley “Beastman” Eastman, who painted it in 2017 as part of the final First Coat Festival.

The current mural actually replaced a 2016 work by acclaimed artist Fintan Magee, which commemorated volunteers who helped victims of the 2011 Toowoomba floods.

The council removed part of that mural to replace the wall’s render that had been damaged by water.

At the time, now-deputy mayor Geoff McDonald said the council was committed to creating a new mural at the site.

“The Toowoomba Regional Council is committed to creating and maintaining the region’s rich traditions and bold ambitions by supporting and promoting the beautification of Toowoomba’s CBD,” he said in May 2017.

According to the proposal submitted by Revolution Town Planning on behalf of the council, the demolition of the building would make way for an extra 50 car parks.

Reports were also submitted into landscaping and stormwater.

The council and Mr Eastman were contacted for comment.