The project, which was started by Keep Ōtepoti Dunedin Beautiful committee in 2019, was officially unveiled yesterday.
It has involved the work of students from seven Dunedin schools, and was painted by artist Koryu Aoshima.
Keep Ōtepoti Dunedin Beautiful committee member Mandy Mayhem, who is also a Dunedin city councillor, said the work of the students was phenomenal.
The mural features several different motifs, including a penguin in graduation garb, a Baldwin St sign, Larnach Castle and a host of native flora and fauna.
"I think the students would have had an immense sense of pride in seeing their hard work represented in this mural.
"I think it’s an amazing advertisement to the city as seen through the eyes of the future artists and designers of the city."
Koryu Aoshima "smashed it out of the park" when it came to putting the students’ designs and ideas into the finished work, Ms Mayhem said.
"We’re so lucky that he was able to blend elements of the old mural, such as keeping the original cats, with the new ideas.
"I think it will act as a bit of a time capsule."
The fact the old mural, which featured the cats painted by Otago Girls’ High School students, had been kept in such good condition, made the work on the new mural that much easier, she said.
Mr Aoshima said he was pleased with the variety and originality of the students’ output.
While the design process took several months, it took only about a fortnight to actually paint the mural.
"It’s been really exciting".
Ms Mayhem said they raised more than $12,000 towards the mural.
Yesterday, a special prizegiving was held to acknowledge the students who assisted with the new design.
