Visit Australia’s Silo Art Trail While International Travel is at a Standstill

What is the Silo Art Trail?

The pieces of art that have transformed the landscape in several small towns are all painted on the side of wheat silos. Water tower art is also included. These painted silos are a clever way to transform a dull everyday object into something magical. 

Several different artists created the works. Each different creation says something about the area and several local residents feature. 

Visiting the Silo Art Trail 

The original Silo Art Trail is just over 200km long. There are also two other silos that you can visit. Doing this adds 70km to the journey but the silos are certainly worth visiting. 

You could choose to drive the entire trail in around four hours. However, it makes more sense to take a couple of days and organise some overnight accommodation. This gives you enough time to really appreciate the art. 

If you are travelling from Melbourne, it takes around 3.5 hours to drive to Rupanyup in Yarriambiack shire, to start the trail. Then, you can follow the trail map for the entire journey to the final silos at Patchewollock. From here you can also visit the two additional silos which can be found on the A79. 

 

An introduction to the silos 

Before you travel the Silo Art Trail, you may want some information about the silos and the artists who painted them. Here is a brief overview of what to expect. 

Town of Rupanyup – art by Julia Volchkova 

The Rupanyup silo art was created in 2017, by Russian artist Julia Volchkova. The art is painted on steel silos and is smaller than other works on the trail. This does not make the artwork any less impressive as the view is beautiful.

The local people featured in the two portraits are Ebony Baker and Jordan Weidemann. They are wearing sportswear to reflect the importance of sport to the local community. 

Town of Sheep Hills – art by Adnate 

Melbourne street artist Adnate created this contribution to the Silo Art Trail in 2016. The colourful art is a welcome addition to the landscape in the town of Sheep Hills. 

The work depicts the transfer of knowledge between generations of indigenous people. It features children Curtly McDonald aged nine and Savannah Marks aged two. It also features elders from the Wergeia and Wotjobaluk groups, including elders uncle Ron Marks. 

Town of Brim – art by Guido van Helten

The first art created for the trail is impressive. It was created in 2015 by Guido van Helten and it captures the strength of the local community of farmers. 

The characters featured in the work are anonymous and they blend into the silo itself. This is because the art is about the entire community and how it is at one with the land. 

Town of Roseberry – art by Kaff-eine

The Roseberry silo art was created by artist Kaff-eine in 2017. The artist says that she wanted to reflect the relationship between different generations and between the community and the land. 

The art depicts a young female sheep farmer and an older horseman. They are both proud of their role within the community. 

Town of Patchewollock – art by Fintan Magee

The art at Patchewollock is the most northern on the trail, so it may be the last piece that you visit. Artist Fintan Magee created the work in 2016. 

It features local farmer Nick Hulland. He is captured looking out over the landscape. The idea behind the portrait is to capture the strength of character and personality that local farmers have. 

Town of Lascelles – art by Rone 

This part of the Silo Art Trail was created by artist Rone in 2017. The artist met many of the local people while in the area and features them in the work. 

Local residents Geoff and Merrilyn Horman both look out over Lascelles from different silos. The sight is both beautiful and thought-provoking. 

Town of Sea Lake – art by Drapl & the Zookeeper

This piece of art is the newest on the trail. Street art experts Drapl & the Zookeeper created it in 2019. The work is situated in the largest town on the trail. It’s also close to Lake Tyrell which is a beautiful spot to visit while you are in the area. 

The lake appears in the artwork itself. It features a young girl swinging from a Mallee Eucalyptus while looking across the lake. The idea of the image is to capture the enduring natural wonder of the area. 

Town of Nullawil – art by Smug

This is another recent addition to the trail which Artist Smug completed in 2019. The artist is known for producing high-quality portraits. 

 

 

This work is certainly impressive as it perfectly captures the connection between a man and his kelpie sheepdog.It’s also significant for featuring the kelpie as the breed originated in Victoria.  

At a time when travelling to other countries is difficult, why not explore at home? Travelling the Silo Art Trail, and seeing transformed grain silos, provides the perfect opportunity to do this.