Canberra Street Art: What Visitors Should Know and the Must-See Highlights

Canberra added 22 new murals this year along the Braddon laneways and the Kingston Foreshore boardwalk, bringing the total documented works to 87 according to the ACT Arts Office map updated in May.

The growth stems from a 2024 council grant program that funded 15 local artists to refresh walls in high-traffic zones near Parliament House and the National Gallery of Australia. Tourism Canberra recorded a 14 percent rise in international visitors last financial year, many of whom now list street art as a top reason for extending stays beyond the usual three days.

Key locations and current displays

Start at the corner of Lonsdale Street and Elouera Street in Braddon where a 12-metre piece by the collective Known as the Braddon Walls Project shows layered native plant motifs completed in March. Walk three blocks south to the rear of the Canberra Centre car park for a 2025 work depicting the Molonglo River in geometric blocks. Across town at the Kingston Foreshore, the 8-metre riverbank mural finished in February uses reflective paint that shifts colour under the evening lights installed by Icon Water last winter.

Visitors can download the free ACT Street Art app for GPS routes that list opening hours and any temporary closures due to construction. Guided tours run every Saturday at 10am from Garema Place and cost 25 dollars for adults, with the next sessions scheduled through to 26 July.

Practical details for first-time visitors

Most works sit within easy reach of bus stops on Northbourne Avenue and the light-rail terminus at Gungahlin, so a single MyWay card covers transport for the full loop. Carry a reusable water bottle because the nearest public fountains are inside the Canberra Centre food court and at the Kingston shops. Check the weather app before heading out, as several pieces along the lake edge have no shelter and July mornings can drop to single digits.

Evening light shows on the Kingston boardwalk begin at 6pm on Fridays and Saturdays through August, giving visitors a second look at the reflective sections without extra cost.