Silos as a canvas

This unique project aims to turn rural landscapes into an open-air art gallery. Northam, Western Australia, was the first official silo artwork in 2015, created by Phlegm and HENSE. However, the Silo Trail concept was initially launched by the Yarriambiack Shire Council in 2016. Since then, talented artists from Australia and all over the globe have been invited to paint these silos with their artistic interpretations.

The painted silo artwork is by famous street artists such as Rone, Adnate, Dvate, Guido Van Helton, Kaff-eine and others, who use these towering silos as their canvases to create impressive artworks that celebrate the local communities, culture, and history.

The Silo Art Trail

The original Silo Art Trail in Northwest Victoria started in 2016 and stretches 350km across regional Victoria, where the silos are strategically located in small towns along the trail. The artwork celebrates the people and culture of the region and adds an artistic touch to the picturesque countryside. Towns that feature painted silos (in driving order) are:- St Arnaud, Rapanyup, Murtoa, Horsham, Sheep Hills, Brim, Lascelles, Walepeup, Sea Lake and Nullawil, with more being added all the time.

North East Silo Trail

The North East Victoria Silo Art Trail began in 2018 and spans 132km. It starts just outside Benalla and takes approximately two hours to complete. Talented artists, including Guido Van Helten, Sobrane, Cam Scale, Adnate, Dvate, and Tim Bowtell, a local artist from Benalla, created the silos along this trail. The first town, Goorambat, has four works of art, including the interior wall of the Uniting Church.

From there, it goes to Devenish, St James, Katatamite and Tungamah. The CFA Water tank at Winton Wetlands is a must-see on returning to Benalla. A North East Trail map is available for download.

Winton Wetlands

The Winton Wetlands Art in the Landscape project aims to improve the visitor experience and raise awareness about the ecological significance of the wetlands by incorporating art installations and sculptures throughout the area. Among these installations are the CFA water tanks. The tank depicts the faces of three CFA firefighters on its side. While in Winton, they are still part of the North East Silo Trail.

Guido Van Helton was commissioned in 2016, as part of the Wall to Wall Street Art Festival in Benalla, to paint the water tank in the heart of the Winton Wetlands.

Echuca-Moama Silo Trail

Echuca Moama and its surrounding regions house four silo and water tank art installations. The Echuca-Moama trail can be done in a full day, but can also be split it into two half-day drives. The total driving time, without any stops, is roughly between 3.5 to 4 hours.

From Echuca, it’s a short 25-minute drive to Rochester where there are two silos painted by Jimmy Dvate. While n Rochester check out Iddles Lane featuring murals painted by Tim Bowtell celebrating Ron Iddles one of the state’s most respected detectives

It takes approximately 25 minutes to drive from Rochester to Colbinabbin. In 2020, artist Tim Bowtell painted the silos in Colbinabbin, showcasing important moments from the town’s history. These moments include the town’s connection to agriculture, community, environment, and the construction of the railway.

The final destination is Picola, which is located 35 minutes away, again painted by Jimmy Dvate. The artwork showcases the culturally significant Barmah National Park and the various wildlife that inhabits it. After visiting Picola, it will take another 30 minutes to return to Echuca.

Woomeland Field Bins

Explore Woomelang’s unique Mini Silo Art Trail, which offers a creative twist on the well-known Big Silo Art Trail. This trail features eight Mini Silos (Field Bins) scattered throughout the town, providing a fun and exciting way to discover the area. The Mini Silos celebrates the endangered species of the Mallee region.

In June 2020, a group of seven artists, including Jimmy DVate, Andrew J Bourke, and Kaff-eine, converted mini silos into a popular tourist attraction for the town. The mini silos showcase endangered species that are native to the area.

The Silo Art Trail showcases the transformative power of art in enriching communities. This painted silos project has revitalised rural Australia by using ordinary grain silos as canvases for extraordinary murals, providing an unparalleled cultural experience for both locals and visitors. As you travel along the trail, you will witness breathtaking artwork and become part of the collective effort to preserve the essence of regional Australia.

The Silo Art Trail symbolises resilience, creativity, and the indomitable spirit of the Australian outback. So, pack your bags, hit the road, and let the vibrant stories told by the silos take you on an unforgettable adventure!

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Graincorp Silos

Dvate is a Melbourne-based artist and graphic designer. His artwork depicts local fauna, so as to raise awareness of endangered animals. Both silos were painted in 2018, with the tall silo featuring the Squirrel Glider. The Squirrel Glider is the largest of the three gliders found in Northern Victoria and was thought to be extinct in South Australia since 1939. However, genetic testing has confirmed their continued inhabitance of the area.

The smaller silo features the Azure Kingfisher perched alongside the Campaspe River. With its distinctive royal blue plumage on its upper parts and orange on the chest, the azure kingfisher is the brightest coloured of all four kingfishers found in northern Victoria. However, It is also one of the smallest kingfishers.

While we were there, we were lucky enough to come across Dvate. He had just started painting the silos at the back of the existing ones. Work started in November and is expected to be finished in December. Dvate’s work can also be seen on the Goorambat Silo, Kyabram water tank, Picola Silo, Woomelang field bins and many walls across Victoria.

Iddles Lane

Not far from the silos is Iddles Lane, a mural painted by Tim Bowtell in January 2020. The mural tells the story of Rochester born, former homicide detective Ron Iddles OAM APM. Also featured on the mural is Ron’s twin brother Barry an international chef, and other family members. As a result of Ron’s 99% conviction rate with the police force, he was dubbed “Australia’s greatest detective”.

Ron was famous for his work in the homicide squad and as Secretary of the Police Union. It was with the police union he raised awareness of mental health issues with serving officers. As a result, Ron earned the respect of peers, victims and criminals alike. Retiring in 2017 he was the subject of a book by Justine Ford titled The Good Cop. Furthermore, in 2019 he starred in a Foxtel Crime & Investigation series based on the book and won a Silver Logie.

More of Tim Bowtell’s work can also be seen on the Winton Wetlands CFA tank and fish trees, Colbinabbin Silos and pub, Winton rest stop and several locations across Benalla.

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