Victoria's Silo Arts Trail

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Everywhere you look in Victoria's Wimmera-Malle districts they're dotted at intervals along mile after mile of railway line, inevitably the first thing you see as you near the next tiny outpost of civilisation in this vast and flat grain growing region. They're grain silos, two, three, four, sometimes six 30-metre tall concrete tubes clustered together and used to store the rich harvest of the district. At least that's what they were used for in the past. Today, due to improved transport and grain handling technology many, if not most stand idle.

But now, thanks to a pre-occupation with graffiti & street-art and with the financial support of Governments and corporate groups some of Victoria's silos have been transformed into huge artworks, giant murals celebrating the people of the Wimmera and Mallee at six sites which together form the 200 Kilometre long Silo Arts Trail.

The first work was completed at Brim in 2015 by renowned Brisbane artist Guido Van Helten and depicting four local farmers covering six towering silos.



Number 2 on the trail was completed at Patchewollock in October 2016 by another Brisbane based artist Finton Magee. The model for Magee's work was local farmer Nick Hulland.



Not long afterwards, in December 2016, world-renowned street artist Adnate completed a spectacular coloured portrait of four indigenous faces against a background of the Milky Way on six silos at Sheep Hills.



Russian artist Julia Volchkova painted the only metal silos on the trail at Rupanyup in March 2017. A graffiti and street artist who's worked around the world she painted the portraits of two members of the Rupanyup Panthers Football & Netball Club.



The fifth silo to be completed was at Lascelles where Melbourne artist 'Rone' created a portrait of farming couple Geoff and Merrilyn Horman, wheat farmers born in the district and where their family has lived and farmed for four generations.



The sixth and final site was completed at Rosebery earlier this year by another Melbourne artist 'Kaff-eine', a young lady who gave up a career as a lawyer to pursue her passion for street art.

'Kaff-eine' admits to being afraid of heights, something which makes her towering portrayals of a Mallee horseman and young female sheep farmer all the more amazing.

Federal & State Governments and Yarriambiack Shire have funded the Silo Arts Trail to the tune of $300,000 and the sites have been made available by Graincorp and Australian Grain Export.

A lot of money and effort have gone into the project but it's attracting visitors from around Australia and the world and breathing some life back into isolated, tiny communities which might otherwise have easily disappeared.

I drove the trail from south to north starting at Rupanyup and finishing at Patchewollock, 191 Kilometres and about 2 hours 40 minutes away, a trip which included plenty of photo opportunities and time talking to locals and other visitors.

The trail is also an interesting alternative for anyone driving between Mildura and The Grampians or vice versa. Sure you're 'off highway' but the roads are pretty good and suitable for touring caravans.

Along the way check out the towns of Minyip, Warracknabeal, Beulah and Hopetoun and be sure to enjoy a good cold beer at the Brim Hotel, the old Minapre Hotel at Lascelles or the 'Patche Pub', Patchewollock.



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