New Lobethal mural captures the flow of water in nature
29-06-2026From footprints in the sand to native insects and flowing waterways, a new mural in Lobethal tells an interconnected story of life shaped by water.
SA Water has unveiled its newest Art on Infrastructure project, with Adelaide Hills artist Lucinda Penn transforming a local pump station into a vibrant public artwork celebrating the connections between people, nature and the environment.
Titled ‘Force of Nature’, the large-scale mural wraps around the entire building and features 10 vibrant colours set against a striking pink backdrop.
Water acts as the connecting thread throughout the mural, linking a series of elements including people’s feet along the shoreline, the Lobethal Bushland Park, insects and native plants and animals.
Together, these scenes reflect the movement and flow of water through the natural world and the vital role it plays in sustaining life.
SA Water’s Manager of Brand and Community Connection Kellie McDonald said Lucinda’s mural has transformed an everyday piece of infrastructure into a vibrant storytelling canvas.
“Water is one of nature’s great connectors, linking communities, landscapes and ecosystems, and Lucinda has captured that beautifully in Force of Nature,” Kellie said.
“What makes this artwork so compelling is the way it invites people to move around the entire structure, and discover a continuous visual narrative inspired by the landscapes and waterways of the Adelaide Hills and broader South Australia.
“Much like water itself, the story flows continuously from one side of the building to the next.
“We’re proud to partner with artists to transform our essential infrastructure into something that sparks curiosity, reflects local identity and creates a sense of place for the communities we serve.”
The Lobethal Pump station, built in the 1970s, is part of the network that delivers safe, clean drinking water supplies to the local and surrounding area.
Lucinda said the opportunity to create a design that extended around the building was a unique and exciting challenge, and worked with fellow Adelaide artists Rosina Possingham and Gemma Rose Brook in completing the hand-painted mural.
“I saw it as one extended canvas with different viewpoints, but one that has no start or finish,” she said.
“The concept follows the journey of water droplets travelling from the sea to the bushland waterways of Lobethal and back again, reflecting the continuous natural cycle of movement, renewal, and connection.
“My art is about fostering connection through symbolism that breaks down life into stories, and with this mural I get to reconnect with my roots and with the community.”
Lucinda, who grew up in Stirling, is an award-winning mural artist and designer known for her colourful, large-scale public artworks that explore themes of place, community and the natural world.
Working under the artist name LCND, her work can be found across South Australia, nationally and internationally, and the Mill Studios in the Adelaide CBD.
The Lobethal mural is located near the roundabout where Woodside Road, Quarry Road and Onkaparinga Valley Road intersect, and is bordered by the Amy Gillett Bikeway.
It joins SA Water’s Art on Infrastructure portfolio which involves partnering with artists and communities to transform water infrastructure into lasting public artworks that reflect local stories and strengthen connections to place.