The Ngatanwarr mural, officially launched on Friday afternoon, has a deeper story to tell of the region’s indigenous culture.

Gunditjmara co-operative CEO Marcus Clarke hopes the piece will start a fresh conversation about the south-west’s Aboriginal heritage.

“We thought wouldn’t it be great if we could actually do an Aboriginal-specific mural because that is a missing voice for Warrnambool itself, especially in the CBD,” Mr Clarke said.

The piece is the work of world-renowned artist Adnate and depicts younger and older community members, eight-year-old Rylan Miller and Bernice Clarke.

“The theme of the mural was preserve the past and embrace tomorrow,” Mr Clarke said.

Balanced in a cherrypicker at the South West TAFE building on the corner of Kepler and Merri streets, the Melbourne-based  artist worked 10-hour days over a week to complete the work.

Inspiration for the piece came after extensive community consultation and a cultural tour of the region.

“He was engaged flat-out and then went home and thought about what the piece would include,” Mr Clarke said. Now complete, the mural helps tell a story that remains relatively untold.

“We don’t have anything in Warrnambool’s CBD. It’s an opportunity for visitors in the area and locals as well to start talking about it,” he said.

“Having it at that location too — it’s a bit like a welcome to Warrnambool, especially for people getting off the train.”

Mr Clarke said QR codes were located at the site which people could scan with their mobile phone to receive more information about the mural and the stories behind it. A website, www.warrnamboolstreetart.com.au, was also launched.

Mr Clarke said feedback about the mural, particularly on social media, had been overwhelming.

“Everyone has been really positive. It’s really heartening to see what we have managed to achieve.”