Bee‑themed makeover transforms a busy street into a safer, more vibrant space
By Jul 3, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Some road works leave you fuming in a queue. This one might make you smile.
A modest stretch of roadway on Outram Street in West Perth has been reimagined as a striking public artwork with a practical purpose.
Forage is a large-scale artwork by Perth artist Sioux Tempestt. It has been embedded directly into the road surface, extending West Perth Local’s Bee Scene Trail beyond its usual walls and laneways.
Can art slow down traffic? Image Source: Lazy_Bear / Shutterstock
The design is intentionally layered in meaning. Inspired by native pollinators and the flowering landscapes of nearby Kings Park, it features familiar flora such as banksia, kangaroo paw and bottlebrush.
Its bold visual language is crafted to work at different distances, readable at a glance for passing motorists, yet offering richer detail for those who pause and explore on foot.
Art that doubles as a speed hump
Here is the clever idea behind it. The Streets Alive approach is based on the belief that roads can serve a purpose beyond simply moving vehicles.
Rather than focusing only on vehicle flow, projects like this aim to encourage slower driving while making streets more engaging for people walking or cycling.
When a road catches your attention, drivers naturally tend to reduce their speed.
Those behind the project say it is already working. West Perth Local chairman Natalie Bussau said, ‘Forage has done exactly what we hoped for, slowing people down, sparking conversation, and giving Outram Street a real sense of place.’
It is also a significant undertaking for the group behind it. This project marks the biggest installation delivered so far under West Perth Local’s Bee Scene program.
The initiative has been steadily shaping the precinct’s identity through a mix of public art, including sculptures, murals, bee hotels and native wildflower plantings.
Backed by a major State Government program, the project sits within the Streets Alive initiative, which aims to reimagine public spaces.
Funding comes from Main Roads Western Australia (WA), with delivery led by Doing Co, formerly Town Team Movement.
In its second phase, the program selected seven community groups across the state, including West Perth Local. The initiative also draws support from the City of Perth and WALGA.
Australia’s first bee village
The bigger picture is genuinely charming. The state government tipped $150,000 into the Native Bee Scene Trail in its 2021-2022 Budget.
That money funded the creation of Australia’s first urban native bee village.
Native bees deserve the fuss. WA is home to over 800 species of native bees, and they rarely, if ever, sting.
Many live in abundance in Kings Park. Across the country, there are more than 1,640 described native bee species.
The vast majority live a solitary lifestyle rather than in colonies. Unlike honey bees, they often do not belong to hives; they rely on crevices in trees to rest.
Key takeaways
- A painted road mural on Outram Street, West Perth, is designed to slow traffic and lift the neighbourhood’s charm as part of a $5 million state program.
- The artwork anchors Australia’s first urban native bee village, backed by $150,000 in state funding and support from Main Roads WA, the City of Perth and Western Australian Local Government Association.
- WA has over 800 native bee species that rarely sting; the trail teaches visitors how to attract them into their own backyards with native flowering plants.
The lovely part for the rest of us? The trail aims to teach visitors about native bees and how to encourage them into their own backyards.
As the movement behind it puts it, anyone can be a placemaker. It is a matter of looking around with fresh eyes and having a go.
Have you spotted a clever bit of street art near you, or coaxed native bees into your garden? Tell us in the comments.