One of Melbourne’s most retro stations has been given a new look, with the installation of a large-scale First Nations artwork at Flagstaff Station. 

Created by Wadawurrung artist Madi Mercer, also known as Ghostgum, Symphony of Country transforms the station’s concourse, upper walkway and William Street entrance into an immersive reflection of Country, culture and movement.  

With Melbourne’s rail network continuing to evolve, Metro saw an opportunity to refresh the station and create a space that reflects both its important role in the city’s transport network and the cultural significance of the land on which it sits.  

For more than 40 years, Flagstaff Station has connected commuters, students, office workers and visitors travelling to and from Melbourne’s north-western CBD precinct.  

Providing direct access to Flagstaff Gardens, the legal district and Queen Victoria Market, it remains one of the city’s busiest and most recognisable underground stations – and was the perfect location for a facelift. 

More than 18 months in the making, the result is Symphony of Country, a permanent artwork exploring movement, connection and the enduring rhythms of the natural world. Birds appear to travel alongside commuters through the station, while large-scale wall and entry pieces create moments of reflection within the busy underground environment.

For Madi Mercer, the project represents an opportunity to tell a deeper story about place and Country. 

“This artwork is deeply meaningful to me as it marks what I consider to be the proudest point of my career so far,” she said. 

“Through this work, I wanted to channel the feeling of Country, overlaying the two truths or eras it has lived; what it was, and what it is today.” 

“I wanted to acknowledge the changes that have occurred, pay homage to what we have lost, while also recognising the enduring spirit of the Land that continues to ebb just beneath the surface.” 

From the migration of native wildlife to seasonal changes in local flora, the work encourages passengers to notice the world around them and the connections that exist beneath the surface of everyday life.