Internationally renowned Melbourne artist Adnate will paint the mural as part of a public event in Trentham on Sunday. 

The sixteen-year-old girl chosen to be painted on the side of the old 1870s National Bank of Australiasia, now cafe The Trentham Collective, is a descendant from the local Dja Dja Wurrung people.

The two by three metre work of Akira Kelly will face the laneway adjacent to the cafe which will be renamed Dja Dja Wurrung Lane.

Local organiser Nathan McGuire said Kelly was chosen because a young person’s image was an indication of the future of the Dja Dja Wurrung people.

“Akira is a proud descendant of the Dja Dja Wurrung people and has been a frequent performer in traditional ceremonies and dances which she feels have helped connect her to her culture,” he said.

“She seemed like the perfect subject because the way she is taking on her own culture is the future of young Indigenous people all around Australia. This mural is all about taking pride in and sharing Indigenous culture.

“Trentham is considered a sacred place to the Dja Dja Wurrung people and this is an opportunity to create more awareness about Indigenous culture within the region.”

Artist Adnate's work can be seen on buildings across Melbourne as well as locations across the world such as Singapore and New York.

He recently finished a large scale mural in Shepparton to draw attention to Indigenous culture.

“I paint these murals so that as Australians, we understand that Aboriginals are the oldest living culture on earth,” he said.

“We need to recognise, celebrate and embrace the whole history of the nation, not just the last 200 years.”

The public event on Sunday will begin with a smoking ceremony and welcome to country at 9.30am. Visitors can see the progress of the painting at The Trentham Collective throughout the day. 

For more information head to the Dja Dja Wurrung by Adnate Facebook event.