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The Capricorn Coast will be the ultimate winner from two Emu Park public art works taking home gold from the inaugural Australian Street Art Awards.

Announced at a gala dinner on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast this week, the two works are “Beach Party” mural by Simon McLean, which took out the Best Amusing Street Art category, and the Emu Park Centenary of ANZAC Memorial in the Best Monument or Memorial.

Both works were nominated by Livingstone Shire Council.

The Australian Street Art Awards recognise towns, regions and destinations that are using one or more of the many forms of outdoor, publicly accessible art to attract visitors, boost their economy and engage their community.

Australian Street Art Awards Director, Liz Rivers, said “This win is a significant feather in Emu Park’s cap. The Award will encourage more tourists to experience the Capricorn Coast and the other winning street art regions”.

Judging was conducted by tourism and event industry leaders from around Australia, lending weight to Emu Park’s success.

The criteria focussed on the way the festival has attracted visitors, boosted economic contribution from tourists and brought the local community together, rather than the quality of the artwork.

“The towns and organisations behind the winning entries showed clear evidence that they had a powerful vision for future success through a strategic tourism approach,” Ms Rivers said.

The judges loved the slightly naughty, totally hilarious Beach Party mural, which encases the toilet block adjacent to the Emu Park Surf Life Saving Club. The artwork has turned stopping at the loo into a “must do” visitor experience. It has also rekindled the community’s love for a bygone era while making holidaymakers chuckle.

In announcing the Best Monuments and Memorials Award, the judges said this category was especially tough to assess with three wonderful and very different ANZAC memorials each paying tribute to the men and women who have served in the defence of our nation.

“In the end, the way in which Emu Park’s memorial has become integral to a visit to the seaside town stood this artwork apart,” they said.

They said Emu Park was punching well above its weight by securing two Australian Street Art Awards – the only town in Australia to do so.

Click here to read from award winning travel blog and You-Tube channel, Little Grey Box as they share their Capricorn Coast street art discoveries.

#visitcapricorn #southerngreatbarrierreef

Other winners were:

• 2019 Best Business Mural: Froth Craft Brewery’s “Froth Lido Mural”, Exmouth (WA)
• 2019 Best External Mural: “Looking Glass Fish in the Deep Hue Sea“, Sunshine Coast (QLD)
• 2019 Best Mega Mural: Narrandera Water Tower, Narrandera (NSW)
• 2019 Best Rural Art: “The Watering Hole” Silos Mural, Thallon (QLD)
• 2019 Best Street Art Festival or Event: Colour Tumby Street Art Festival, Tumby Bay (SA)
• 2019 Best Street Art Trail: FORM’s The PUBLIC Silo Trail (WA)
• 2019 Best Utility Art: “Sunset Dreaming” mural, Manly (NSW)
• 2019 Best of the Best: “The Watering Hole” Silos Mural, Thallon (QLD)