Friends have invited me to join them on a downstream adventure for a few days, on a houseboat on the Murray River. Woo hoo!

En route to the houseboat in Mildura, Trevor and I decided to visit the Silo Art Trail in the Wimmera region of Victoria – six silos have been painted by Australian artists along the railway line or at a former railway station. They stretch over 170 kilometres.

We began our journey at Rupanyup, looking up at the monochrome mural created by Russian artist Julia Volchkova on 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.

 Next to Brim…..Guido van Helten, a Brisbane artist, has turned the tiny town with a population of about 100, into a tourist destination with his silo paintings of the “Farmer Quartet”, a tribute to the drought stricken farming community.  People are in awe of the four characters, standing 30 metres tall, on the iconic Australian structures. Who are they? Guido won’t say….”I don’t want this to be about individual people specifically,” he said. “It’s about this place, it’s about the community and, on a broader scale, the whole Wimmera region”.  

The Sheep Hills silo mural is the third instalment of the Silo Art Trail, created by world-renowned street artist Adnate. The oversize mural depicts members of the Barengi Gadjin community, including local Elders Uncle Ron Marks, Aunty Regina Hood and two younger members of the community, Savannah Marks and Curtly McDonald.  

The mural represents the passing on of knowledge and local indigenous history from Elders to the next generation within the community; as well as depicting elements of the local dreaming and the passing of time. Adnate, who is widely celebrated for his work with Indigenous communities, spent three weeks with the Barengi Gadjin community to conceive and complete of the Sheep Hills silo mural in his hopes of creating more than just art- “I want to create a conversation among local people and visitors to engage in the history of the people and the area”.  It was a real thrill to meet relatives who were visiting the site to inspect and photograph the painting of Savannah. My offer to take a pic of them in front of the mural of their relative was gladly accepted!

Melbourne artist, Kaff-eine completed her silo art work in Rosebery in late 2017, depicting themes that she says embody the region’s past, present and future.  The silo on the left captures the grit, tenacity and character of the region’s young female farmers, who regularly face drought, fires and other hardships living and working in the Mallee. In her work shirt, jeans and turned-down cowboy boots, the strong young female sheep farmer symbolises the future.    The silo on the right portrays a quiet moment between dear friends. The contemporary horseman appears in Akubra hat, Bogs boots and oilskin vest – common attire for Mallee farmers. Both man and horse are relaxed and facing downward, indicating their mutual trust, love and genuine connection.

We visited Patchewollock – population 250 – and marvelled 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.

Lascelles is the last remaining art silo in the area but we didn’t manage to get to it – maybe next time.