A spectacular public art installation spanning seven kilometres underneath Perth's newly elevated rail line is turning grey concrete into a vibrant journey of colour. The massive project, which stretches from Carlisle to Beckenham, is completely revitalising the suburban landscape and breathing new life into local neighbourhoods.

A New Canvas Under the Tracks

Following the elevation of the Armadale railway line to remove congested level crossings, a vast corridor of public space was opened up underneath the tracks. Rather than leaving the concrete structures bare, local artists Chris Nixon and Kyle Hughes-Odgers were commissioned to turn the massive infrastructure into a sprawling, cohesive canvas.

Known as the Linewide Graphic Trail, the project took five months to complete and required a staggering 2,000 litres of paint. It spans across 120 concrete pylons, abutments, and adjacent community zones, seamlessly integrating with new lawns, playgrounds, skate parks, basketball courts, and community spaces.

Colour as a Passenger

According to the artists, the trail is designed to tell a continuous story for commuters, cyclists, and pedestrians traversing the corridor. The colour palette evolves dynamically as you move from station to station, with each suburb possessing its own distinct identity.

"The task we set ourselves was to create an identity for each section of the line because people are going to experience it either in just a little section or maybe in its entirety," Nixon said. "We wanted each space to feel completely unique to that location."

The journey begins in Carlisle with lush shades of green, which transition into cool teals around the Oats Street station. As the trail heads further south towards Queens Park and Cannington, the palette shifts into warm oranges and vibrant reds, before finally settling into bright yellows at Beckenham.

In total, about 20 carefully curated colours are used across the entire length of the trail, with a maximum of five or six colours in any single zone. This deliberate overlap ensures that the entire seven-kilometre stretch feels connected and unified.

International Recognition and Community Pride

Despite the intimidating scale of painting 120 massive concrete pillars, the artists embraced the unique challenge. Working with a dedicated installation team, they focused on creating an impactful public experience that residents could feel proud of.

A year after its completion, the trail remains entirely free of graffiti—a testament to how warmly the local community has embraced the artwork. The innovative project is also gaining significant industry attention, securing a nomination for the prestigious Dulux Colour Award and landing in the top 100 global projects vying for a US-based CODAaward, which celebrates outstanding integrations of commissioned art into interior, architectural, and public spaces.