The five-year-old ventured to his front pathway on Saturday morning and drew a rainbow with the words 'Stay Safe'.

His mother Lara Edwards said Arlie had a few health conditions and was high-risk in the coronavirus outbreak.

"We had been inside for eight days and I explained to him that other people were doing this too," Ms Edwards said.

"Arlie saw people drawing rainbows and I gave him some chalk and away he went.

"He knew exactly what he wanted to do and I helped in some areas."

The beautiful gesture joins a string of other murals in Examiner Crescent as the little patch of Warrnambool bands together with positivity during this time of isolation.

"I think Arlie is a bit worried but I don't think he, or anyone else really, understands the gravity of the situation," Ms Edwards said.

"He understands that staying inside is the safest option for his health and everybody else."

READ MORE:

Listen to the latest episode of our weekly episode The Booletin and Beyond:

Arlie has made sure his mural is still visible despite the recent rain and has been patching it up when needed.

People have been taking their chalk to pavement throughout the south-west to spread messages of hope and artist Jimmi Buscombe, who uses chalk frequently in his murals, could not be happier.

"It's so good, the world is better with art in it," he said.

"Art can convey a really important message in a simple way by using joy and that's what this little boy has done. In turn, he's made himself feel better and brightened people's day.

"What a legend."

In other parts of the city murals, hopscotches and rainbows have adorned pathways as people turn to creative means to pass the time.

Minerva Drive resident Kerry Taylor was inspired to get drawing after seeing a post on Facebook. Not long after she started, her neighbour Joan Stevenson asked her to decorate her wall.

"We have had an absolutely amazing time doing this," Mrs Taylor said.

"I was at work and thinking 'what can we do to brighten this up?'. I had heard about the chalk colouring and thought we should colour in the bricks on our house.

"Once we got started our neighbour Joan asked us come and do her wall."

Mrs Taylor, her children and grandchildren have all gotten on board the chalk drawings and delighted to decorate their street.

"My grandson is only five and it's getting him outside and we're getting him to practise writing his name," she said.

"We've also put out teddys in the window and there's been lots of people stopping when walking.

"It's bringing life back to our street."

READ MORE:

We have removed our paywall from our stories about the coronavirus. This is a rapidly changing situation and we want to make sure our readers are as informed as possible. If you would like to support our journalists you can subscribe here.