Rather than have a shopfront empty, centre management transformed the space into a “multi-sensory encounter” called Touch Hear in the southern building on Crown Street.

Passers-by are encouraged to get hands-on with the immersive and interactive pattern and text that covers an entire room (including the floor and ceiling), and discover the secret sounds embedded within.

It was created by Melbourne-based artist George Rose, a trained graphic designer, who used her trademark bold colours to intertwine across the large scale mural with a special reference to Wollongong.

Rose has used conductive paint, a specialised product that becomes touch sensitive and triggers sounds when connected to an Arduino Board and programmed.

Wollongong Central regional general manager Antony Keenan welcomed what he called a “groundbreaking” artwork and said he was proud to be presenting the “innovative” installation in Wollongong.

Rose developed the piece by exploring themes central to her current interest in art as a means of social unity and mass communication, at the same time as promoting public experimentation and being an all-encompassing homage to the local community.

The word ‘Wollongong’ features prominently, with each letter producing a different sound when touched.

The colour scheme used is reflective of the region’s proximity to the water, and the soundscape has been recorded in surrounding areas.

The sounds used have been devised in collaboration with music producer, artist and performer, Plutonic Lab.

This is the first in a series of creative projects by Wollongong Central in partnership with Sydney’s aMBUSH Gallery in 2017.

It comes as Illawarra businesses are increasingly embracing murals and commissioning artists to brighten dull walls such as Stockland Shellhabour and a West Wollongong doctor's surgery.