Seal of approval: Sammy gets his own Safety Beach mural

Published on 14 August 2026

Move over, celebrities. Safety Beach has a new mural star, and he's got flippers.

Local street artist Tyson Savanah (better known as Father Marker) has brought Peninsula favourite Sammy the seal back to one of his favourite haunts, unveiling a vibrant new mural near the Safety Beach boat ramp.

For anyone who somehow missed Sammy's rise to fame, the beloved seal became a local legend earlier this year after regularly popping up on beaches between Rosebud and Mornington. His most memorable stunt? Taking a six-hour nap on Point Nepean Road near Anthony's Nose and bringing traffic to a standstill while adoring fans and wildlife officers looked on.

Although Sammy sadly passed away in May, the community's affection for the cheeky marine visitor has never faded.

Tyson, who recently completed a Sammy the seal mural in Melbourne's Flinders Court, approached the Shire offering to donate his time and skills to create a similar artwork on the Peninsula. The Shire agreed to cover the costs of materials and identified a highly visible wall on the toilet block near the boat ramp. 

Known for capturing community characters through his street art, Tyson said Sammy's story struck a special chord.

"Sammy wasn't just another seal," Tyson said. "The way the community embraced him made him part of the Peninsula's story."

The mural imagines Sammy living his best afterlife, cruising through "seal heaven" surrounded by squid-shaped traffic cones, a playful wink to the countless times he was found snoozing behind cones set up to protect him from curious crowds and traffic.

"I hope the mural gives people a reason to smile and celebrate the joy he brought to our community," Tyson said.

And if Sammy's history is anything to go by, he'd probably be pretty pleased with all the attention.

Next time you're at Safety Beach boat ramp, swing by and say hello to the Peninsula's favourite traffic-stopping seal, now permanently on display where he belongs.

For more information visit, Mural Sammy the seal by Father Marker