Celebrate the rich heritage of Victoria’s Wimmera/Mallee region with a journey along the 200km Silo Art Trail, soon to become the country’s biggest outdoor gallery. Cruise from town to town and witness this innovative art project that sees renowned street artists from Australia and across the globe transform wheat silos into giant works of art.
For more than 100 years Victoria’s towering wheat silos have defined the state’s rural landscape. And when Brisbane street artist Guido Van Helten created his famous ‘Farmer Quartet’ on the Brim silos in 2015, it captured the imagination of the town and inspired The Silo Art Trail project.
The trail brings together internationally recognised street artists – Julia Volchkova, Guido van Helten, Fintan Magee, Matt Adnate, Kaff-eine and Rone – and takes in six of Victoria’s smallest towns. Murals in Sheep Hills, Brim, Patchewollock, Lascelles and Rupanyup are already complete, while new work by Kaff-eine are planned for Rosebery. A unique art project that is still evolving, the Silo Art Trail has already revitalised the towns and brought thousands of new visitors to the region.
Rupanyup silo
Begin your journey along The Silo Art Trail at Rupanyup. Look up at the monochrome mural created by Russian artist Julia Volchkova on the huge metal grain storage bins – a work that was inspired by the local Rupanyup Panthers Football & Netball Club. Known the world over for her moving portraits, Volchkova is actively involved in the global street art movement, and her work can be found in Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia and now Australia.
Brim silo
Travel on to the small rural town of Brim and see Guido van Helten’s famous ‘Farmer Quartet’ for yourself. Located on the Henty Highway and stretching out across all four of the Brim silos, this massive mural was painted in 2015 as a tribute to the drought-stricken farming community. Created in van Helten’s famous monochromatic photo-realistic style, the mural instantly became a regional landmark and provided the inspiration for The Silo Art Trail project.
Sheep Hills silo
Stop off on your trip along at Sheep Hills and see the huge mural by Adnate – an internationally renowned artist, famous for his work with Aboriginal communities across Australia. Completed in December 2016 and spread across all six silos, the work consists of four indigenous faces watching over the tiny community of Sheep Hills; with a starry background that has a symbolic significance to the local people.
Lascelles silo
See the tiny town of Lascelles in the Silo Art Trail spotlight with artwork by celebrated Melbourne artist Tyrone ‘Rone’ Wright. Rone turns his intimate portraiture to giant grain silos, depicting local wheat farmers Geoff and Merrilyn Horman looking out over the rural landscape. An influential figure in the Melbourne street art scene, Rone has works in major Australian galleries and murals in cities all over the world.
Patchewollock silo
Finish your journey along Victoria’s Silo Art Trail at Patchewollock – population 250 – and marvel at the work of Brisbane-based street artist Fintan Magee, sometimes referred to as ‘Australia’s Banksy’. Painted over a couple of weeks in October 2016, the giant mural depicts local sheep and grain farmer, Nick ‘Noodle’ Hulland, chosen for his ‘classic farmer looks’ and his strong connection to the farming community.
