The mural was unveiled on Friday by Aboriginal elders and the school community.

School principal Shane Kelly said he had mentioned he had seen a similar idea at another school and mentioned it to staff member Sommar Conlan.

He said Ms Conlan had taken the idea and run with it.

“She has been the organiser and driver behind this,” Mr Kelly said.

“We had to decide what the concept would be and how it would work.

“The art they have come up with has become an incredible, eye-catching piece of art.

“The whole project has been about Indigenous and non-Indigenous working together, that’s what we’re about as a school, that’s what we’re about as a community, and that’s what we should be about as a country as well.”

Mr Kelly said the mural would be on the wall for a long time “and have a story to tell”.

The school called on Aboriginal artist Anthony Conlan to help with the mural.

Mr Conlan said the theme was reconciliation.

“It is white Australians and black Australians coming together as one,” he said.

“It’s a mural with a design of animals from around this area representing the black and white cultures.”

He said many students and staff at the school had helped.

The mural features a pattern of footprints. Students, staff and Aboriginal elders were invited to sign their names on the footprints in support of reconciliation.

The event was also a Gunnedah first for new regional education director Mark Young, who also signed the mural while visiting the school.