Publicly visible murals and a sculpture at the Caboolture Watchhouse in Caboolture have transformed the King Street building into a site of cultural storytelling and community learning.
How The Artworks Came To King Street
The Caboolture Watchhouse, located on King Street, became a visual landmark in August 2021 following the completion of large-scale artworks on its exterior walls. The artworks were designed to be viewed from the street and form part of the public environment in Caboolture.
Two murals were installed on opposite sides of the building, complemented by a stainless-steel sculpture positioned along the top of the wall.
Indigenous Stories Along The Western Wall
The western wall features First Nations artwork created by Indigenous artist James Doyle, who lives locally. The mural incorporates native wildlife and cultural symbols connected to Indigenous lore and shared values within the region.
Imagery includes cranes, black cockatoos, water, vegetation and meeting places, representing stories passed between generations. The artwork was designed to support cultural understanding and identity, with a focus on education and respect across communities.
Working Dogs Honoured In Mural
On the eastern wall, a separate mural depicts five serving police dogs from the Moreton district. The artwork captures the dogs’ individual characteristics and presents them as working partners within the local policing environment.
One of the dogs featured is Police Dog Reaper, known for his focused and reliable working style. Reaper is depicted as “Mr Serious” in the mural, reflecting his reputation during active service.
Police Dog Reaper’s Retirement
Police Dog Reaper retired from duty in May 2025 after serving with the Moreton Dog Squad since July 2017. Now aged 10, Reaper concluded a career marked by the successful tracking and detention of offenders, as well as locating missing people.
Although not bred as a police dog, Reaper displayed traits that, with development, led to his long service record. Following his retirement, Reaper remains with his handler and family. Of the dogs featured in the Caboolture Watchhouse mural, his retirement leaves Police Dog Gator as the only one still actively serving.
Karbul-Ture And The Name Caboolture
Mounted above the murals is a stainless-steel carpet snake sculpture titled Karbul-Ture. The name reflects the origin of Caboolture, meaning “home of the carpet snake” in local First Nations language.
The sculpture acknowledges the cultural connection between the area and the carpet snake, a symbol long associated with Caboolture and widely recognised within the local community.
Educational Resource Released In 2022
In July 2022, an additional Indigenous mural and the carpet snake sculpture were formally unveiled during NAIDOC Week. An accompanying educational booklet titled Stories of the Lore and the Law was released later that year.
The publication explains five interconnected stories depicted in the mural and includes language elements from Gubbi Gubbi, Gungarri and Widi. A digital version featuring illustrations and videos was also made available for community and school use.
Outlook
Since their installation, the murals and sculpture at the Caboolture Watchhouse have remained a prominent public feature along King Street. Despite changes to how the building is used, the artworks continue to present local stories, cultural identity and history to the Caboolture community.
Published 6-Jan-2026
Photo Credit: QPS
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