Surfest 40th anniversary mural takes shape at Merewether

newy.com.au – A new mural is taking shape on the wall of Merewether Surf Life Saving Club to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Surfest, supported by City of Newcastle.

The 40 square metre artwork, inspired by the colour, characters and locations linked to the long-running event, is part of a four-month festival celebrating 40 years of Surfest.

Newcastle artist Mitch ‘Revs’ Resevsky has begun painting the scene at Merewether Beach, featuring big waves being braved by a host of surfers, Merewether Ocean Baths, a surf photographer, hang gliders, local wildlife and a reference to the local Surfboard Club.

Sports Infrastructure Working Party chair Cr Peta Winney-Baartz said City of Newcastle had backed Surfest from its earliest days, describing Council as “the foundation sponsor in 1985, with Council contributing the initial funding to help create the contest”.

“It’s fitting that Councillors voted in June 2025 to commemorate the 40th anniversary milestone by commissioning public art at Merewether Beach, the home of Surfest since 2007,” Winney-Baartz said.

She said the event had helped lift Newcastle’s profile, saying it had “truly put Newcastle on the map in terms of destination awareness and repeat tourism”, while also promoting “both men’s and women’s events, junior competitions and the Indigenous Classic”.

Resevsky said he wanted to create a bright, energetic piece that captured the atmosphere of the festival. “It features all walks of life doing their thing, surfing, having fun, walking dogs, playing on the rocks, doing family activities,” he said.

“Everyone who comes to Newcastle has wonderful things to say about the community and the people here and I think that’s reflected in the mural,” he said, adding: “I take my hat off to Warren Smith. He’s been doing this for a long time now and he’s definitely done Newcastle proud with this event.”

Surfest organiser Warren Smith said the anniversary program would bring a packed competition schedule to Newcastle. “We’ve got more than 800 male and female competitors from across the globe competing across nine events throughout February and March,” he said.

“The celebrations will culminate with the final stop of the World Surf League’s Challenger Series at Merewether from March 9-15,” Smith said.