Rochester Mural Festival.
Iddles Lane Mural
Find it on the south side of Gillies St, east of the Shamrock building
Officially opened – March 15th, 2020
Rochester’s Iddles Lane has come to life under the hand of artist Tim Bowtell who has painted the story of Rochester-born former homicide detective Ron Iddles OAM APM while recognising Ron’s twin brother, international chef Barry Iddles, as well as embracing other family members who were active for many years in the Rochester community.
Rochester Business Network (RBN) received funding for the project from the Australian Government through the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment under the Murray Darling Basin Economic Development Program.
RBN president Glenda Nichol, with the cooperation of the Iddles family, spent months researching for the content of the mural, determined to portray not only Ron’s career achievements, but to illustrate his outstanding character traits which has earnt him the respect of both victims and criminals. His serious “police’ face is his trademark, but we also wanted to show the relaxed, smiling family man and for visitors who have not heard of Ron Iddles, to read the wall and learn why he is known as Australia’s Greatest Detective.
The Artist – Tim Bowtell – Samaria, Victoria
Tim began painting in 2005 and went on to study Visual Arts at TAFE, holding his first solo exhibition at Benalla Art Gallery in 2011. He has won numerous awards and was chosen to participate in Benalla’s Wall to Wall Arts Festival multiple times.
The four-mural silo art work at St James was probably his best-known work before he commenced the Iddles Lane mural.