A painting of Mr Little, who had a string of hits during his 60-year career, has been included as part of a mural on the side a water tank in western NSW, ensuring his legacy will live on in a town where he also lived for a time.

After being born at the Cummeragunja mission on the Murray River near Barmah, Mr Little moved to the Shoalhaven as a young boy and lived at Worrigee.

Many long-time Nowra locals remember the teenager who played at parties and functions in the 1950s, who would sing beside campfires or play outside the Roxy Cinema before hitting the big time.

Mr Little's music was different, and a permanent move to Sydney brought a string of hits starting with Danny Boy in 1959 that peaked at number nine in the charts, followed by El Paso that reached number 12.

His biggest hit came with Royal Telephone which reached number one in 1963, making Mr Little the first Aboriginal musician to hit the national top 10.

Many singles, albums and movies followed, in a career that spanned six decades.

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However amid all the stardom, Mr Little said one of the highlights of his life was being presented with the key to the city while performing in Nowra in 2000, to accompany the Olympic torch relay.

The large-scale portrait by Jenny McCracken is based on a photograph of Mr Little by John Elliot, who also took iconic photographs of Australian country music artists like Slim Dusty, Keith Urban, Troy Cassar-Daley.

The mural also features the river system and local totems, painted by local Gamileroi artist Frank Wright.

Walgett Shire Council commissioned Zest Events International to complete the artwork.

Project manager Andi Mether said the best part about the mural was the legacy it would leave behind.

She said she had also enjoyed working with Mr Little's daughter, Frances Peters-Little, and Mr Wright.

"There's a lot of people behind the scenes, but having worked during NAIDOC Week, that's where the heart comes into the project, " Ms Mether said.

The Walgett community had been welcoming during the weeks they had spent working on the project, Ms Mether said.

If something was broken or needed, there was always someone who would help, she said.

"All of our corporate work disappeared for the year so it actually gave us a chance to do something we'd been wanting to do and focus on regional. We've gone from being Zest Events International to being Zest Events Regional NSW," she said.

"It's a bit different, but brilliant."

Jimmy Little was voted a National Living Treasure in 2004 and awarded the APRA prestigious Ted Albert Award for this Outstanding Services to the Australian Music Industry in 2010.

His daughter Frances Peters-Little said she was thrilled by the decision to pay tribute to her dad and recognise his contribution to reconciliation, Indigenous health and education programs.

Walgett Shire Council general manager Michael Urquhart said the Jimmy Little Memorial mural would join the growing number of silo and water tower trails in NSW.

"The Walgett tower would be a welcomed addition to the region's trail with water tower paintings already in Coonamble and Gulargambone to the south," he said.

"The paintings are having a phenomenal effect on the sustainability of these small towns through increased visitor numbers."

A mural of Hugh Bowman and racehorse Winx is also under way on a silo in Dunedoo.

Ms Peters-Little said it was an "absolute honour" and her parents would be incredibly proud.

"They loved Walgett dearly. It was very close to their heart... and for me personally I am thrilled to pieces. I am about to become a grandmother... when you become a grandmother you start to think about the legacy that passes on," she said.

"I know that I am going to have a grandchild that can look upon this [mural] and say 'that is my great-grandfather' and that will continue."

The story Finished Walgett mural honouring musician is 'full of heart' first appeared on the Daily Liberal