Explore Victoria’s little-known Silo Art Trail

Emily MurphyBy Emily Murphy
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Get ready to marvel at the large-scale murals along the Silo Art Trail in Victoria.

Stretching over 200 kilometres, Victoria’s Silo Art Trail is Australia’s largest outdoor gallery (and one of 100 Amazing Road Trips).

Conceived after the success of the first silo artwork in Brim in 2016, the trail recognises and celebrates the Wimmera Mallee region through a series of large-scale mural portraits that have given new life to the 80–90-year-old grain silos.

The project saw a team of renowned artists from Australia and across the world visit the region, meet the locals and transform each grain silo into an epic work of art; each one telling a unique story about the host town.

DAY ONE: Melbourne to Rupanyup

Rupanyup

Located about three hours from Melbourne, Rupanyup is the ideal first stop for your Silo Art Trail road trip.

Rupanyup’s silo art is the work of Russian mural artist, Julia Volchkova, who turned her attention to the town’s youth and their great love of team sport. Capturing the spirit of community and providing an accurate insight into rural youth culture, the work features the faces of Rupanyup residents and local sporting team members, Ebony Baker and Jordan Weidemann, who are dressed in their sports attire (netball and AFL, respectively).

Rupanyup silo art by Julia Volchkova of Ebony Baker and Jordan Weidemann. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)
Julia Volchkova depicted Rupanyup locals Ebony Baker and Jordan Weidemann on the silos. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)

 

Must-see

Georgia Goodie artwork, Rupanyup

As a side project of the Silo Art Trail, Melbourne street artist Georgia Goodie painted two murals in Rupanyup, each one depicting firefighters. The first mural is at a house that was damaged by fire in September 2016, while the other adorns the town’s old shire office building.

A mural of a firefighter on the Rupanyup old shire office building by Melbourne street artist Georgia Goodie. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)
Head to the Rupanyup old shire office building to see Melbourne street artist Georgia Goodie’s firefighter murals. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)

Stay

The Shack is a rustic and homely rural retreat. The two-bedroom cottage offers panoramic views of farm paddocks, dams, gum trees and the Grampians, the perfect place to rest after a day of exploring.

DAY TWO: Rupanyup to Sheep Hills, Goroke, Kaniva and Brim

Sheep Hills

Melbourne-based artist, Adnate found inspiration for his mural on the Sheep Hills silos in 2016 when he developed a friendship with the Barengi Gadjin Land Council in north-west Victoria.

Adnate depicted Wergaia Elder, Uncle Ron Marks, and Wotjobaluk Elder, Aunty Regina Hood, alongside two young children, Savannah Marks and Curtly McDonald to celebrate the richness of the area’s Indigenous culture.

The night sky represents elements of local dreaming and the overall image signifies the important exchange of wisdom, knowledge and customs from Elders to the next generation.

Spending four weeks with the community in late 2016 to conceive and complete the mural, Adnate sought to shine a spotlight on the area’s young Indigenous people and highlight the strong ancestral connection they share with their Elders.

Silo Art at Sheep Hills by Adnate depicts Wergaia Elder, Uncle Ron Marks, Wotjobaluk Elder, Aunty Regina Hood, with children, Savannah Marks and Curtly McDonald. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)
Adnate shines light on the strong ancestral connection young Indigenous people share with their Elders. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)

Goroke

Artist Geoffrey Carran was heavily inspired by the birdlife in West Wimmera Shire when creating the Goroke silo art.  The word Goroke is the local Aboriginal word for magpie, so the native bird was a natural choice. Geoffrey then expanded the idea to include other native birds, including a kookaburra and galah.

Geoffrey Carran silo art in Goroke of a magpie and kookaburra. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)
The word Goroke is the local Aboriginal word for magpie. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)

Kaniva

The artwork was painted by David Lee Pereira and pays tribute to the nearby Little Desert and its diverse flora and fauna. It is home to more than 600 species of native plants, 220 species of birds and 60 native mammals and reptiles.

The design features the Australian Hobby bird, which is smaller than other falcons, and is one of six Australian members of the family ‘Falconidae’. To the left of the bird is the plains sun orchid, with the salmon/pink sun orchid on the right.

The Australian Hobby bird, and a plains sun orchid painted by David Lee Pereira on the Kaniva silos. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)
The Australian Hobby bird is smaller than other falcons. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)

Brim

Guido van Helten’s iconic Brim mural was the first silo artwork to appear in Victoria, and after gaining widespread local and international attention, its success shone a spotlight on the Wimmera Mallee region and inspired the establishment of the Silo Art Trail.

Completed in early 2016 van Helten’s mural depicts a multi-generational quartet of female and male farmers. Rendered across the four silos, van Helten’s subjects bear expressions that exemplify the strength and resilience of the local farming community.

The figures are both central and peripheral, present and absent, and the work explores shifting notions of community identity at a time when rural populations face both immense economic pressure and the tangible consequences of climate change.

Guido van Helten's silo art in Brim depicts a multi-generational quartet of female and male farmers across four silos. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)
Guido van Helten’s Brim mural was the first silo artwork to appear in Victoria. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)

Must-see

Nine kilometres north of Brim on the Henty Highway is the Netting Fence, constructed in 1885 to stop rabbits invading the Mallee from the south and to keep the dingos to the north. The fence is also the division between the Wimmera and the Mallee regions.

Stay

Brim has a stunning free campsite, which can be powered (or not!) called Reddas Park Camping Area .

DAY THREE: Brim to Rosebery, Albacutya and Patchewollock

Rosebery

Before commencing work in Rosebery, Melbourne artist, Kaff-eine spent time in the Mallee assisting fellow artist Rone on his Lascelles silo project. Kaff-eine’s artwork depicts 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.

The silo on the right portrays a quiet moment between man and horse, who are relaxed and facing downward, indicating their mutual trust, love and genuine connection.

Kaff-eine's Rosebery silo on the left shows a young female farmer, and the silo on the right portrays a quiet moment between man and horse. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)
Kaff-eine’s artwork depicts themes that embody the region’s past, present and future. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)

Albacutya

Ten kilometres north of Rainbow lies the quirky, colourful and more modern take on Silo Art at Albacutya Silo.

Melbourne artist Kitt Bennett was inspired to, “create an artwork that tells a story of growing up in the country as a youth. I have fond memories of exploring the bush and looking for yabbies under rocks in creeks with my parents. Reflecting on this weird and wonderful time as an adult is something that brings me a lot of happiness."

The Albacutya Silo by Kitt Bennett shows bright colours telling the story of growing up in the country. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)
The Albacutya Silo by Kitt Bennett is a more modern take on silo art. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)

Patchewollock

To prepare for his Patchewollock mural, Brisbane artist, Fintan Magee booked a room at the local pub to immerse himself in the community and get to know its people. When he met local sheep and grain farmer, Nick “Noodle" Hulland, Magee knew he had found his muse.

The rugged, lanky local exemplified the no-nonsense, hardworking spirit of the region. Perhaps more importantly though, Noodle had just the right height and leanness to neatly fit onto the narrow, 35-metre-high canvas of the twin silos. Hulland’s solemn expression, sun-bleached hair and squinting gaze speak to the harshness of the environment and the challenges of life in the Wimmera Mallee.

Fintan Magee painted Nick “Noodle
Brisbane artist, Fintan Magee met his silo art subject at the local pub. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)

Must-see

Lake Albacutya

Lake Albacutya is one of a series of terminal lakes on the Wimmera River, which form the largest land-locked drainage system in Victoria.

The Big Mallee Fowl

The Big Mallee Fowl, constructed almost entirely from painted corrugated iron, is one of the most obscure of Australia’s Big Things. Make sure you stop by when you’re in Patchewollock!

The Big Mallee Fowl in Patchewollock. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)
The Big Mallee Fowl is a lesser-known “Big Thing" in Australia. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)

Stay

Just 20 minutes out of Patchewollock is Pine Plains Lodge. With glorious sunrises, lingering sunsets, clear night skies and stars so close you can almost touch them, it is the perfect place to cosy up next to the fire after a big day sightseeing.

DAY FOUR: Patchewollock to Lascelles and Sea Lake

Lascelles

In order to capture the true essence of Lascelles, Melbourne-based artist, Rone knew that he had to learn about the town from those who were deeply connected to it. He depicts local farming couple Geoff and Merrilyn Horman, part of a family that has lived and farmed in the area for four generations.

Rone says that he wanted the mural to portray his subjects as wise and knowing, nurturing the town’s future with their vast farming experience and longstanding connection to the area.

Lascelles silo art by Rone depicts local farming couple Geoff and Merrilyn Horman. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)
The mural portrays Geoff and Merrilyn Horman as wise and knowing. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)

Sea Lake

Joel Fergie and Travis Vinson painted the silo artwork at Sea Lake as a celebration of the still and silence found in outback Victoria, and the associated feelings of wholeness and freedom. The young girl, swinging from a Mallee Eucalyptus, looks over Lake Tyrrell and reflects on her Indigenous heritage.

The Indigenous name ‘Tyrille’ means ‘space opening to the sky’ as the colours of dusk and dawn are reflected in the shallow saline bowl. The Boorong People were known to have more knowledge of astronomy than any other tribe, and their stories are rich in culture and connection to the lake. The artwork aims to connect and bring the viewer closer to some of the relatively ordinary and overlooked elements of the outback landscape and allows viewers to see these elements from a new perspective.

Joel Fergie and Travis Vinson painted the silo artwork at Sea Lake of a young girl, swinging from a Mallee Eucalyptus, looking over Lake Tyrrell and reflecting on her Indigenous heritage. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)
The Boorong People were known to have more knowledge of astronomy than any other tribe, and their stories are rich in culture and connection to Lake Tyrrell. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)

Must-see

Lake Tyrrell

A visit to Lake Tyrrell, Victoria’s largest salt lake, is a must while in Sea Lake. You’ll get a once in a lifetime insta pic, plus the 120,000-year-old lake is regarded as one of the best places in Australia for stargazing, with the dark and endless skies providing the perfect environment.

Pinks and purples reflect off Lake Tyrrell is Victoria's largest salt lake. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)
Lake Tyrrell is the ultimate stargazing spot. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)

 

Stay

Sea Lake has a range of different stays to suit your needs, whether camping is your vibe or you’d prefer to relax in a hotel.

DAY FIVE: Sea Lake to Melbourne via Nullawil

Nullawil

Artist Sam Bates (Smug) painted the Nullawil silo of a kelpie sheepdog and a farmer on the concrete canvas. The soft-coated black and tan Kelpie was depicted with a sheen on his coat, a shiny black nose, a spark in his brown toned eyes and fine grey whiskers above his semi drooped mouth.

As a “nod" to the history of Nullawil the registration disc has a “galah" and “stick" engraved on it. The name of the town is derived from two Aboriginal words, “Nulla" which means killing stick, and “Wil" derived from the term “willock" meaning Galah.

After visiting Nullawil, it’s back home to Melbourne!

Artist Sam Bates (Smug) painted the Nullawil silo of a kelpie sheepdog and a farmer on the concrete canvas. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)
The name of the town is derived from two Aboriginal words, “Nulla" which means killing stick, and “Wil" derived from the term “willock" meaning Galah. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)
Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
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Farm fresh produce to a trail of lights: the ultimate guide to Mildura

    Rachel LayBy Rachel Lay
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    The charm of Mildura is hidden in plain sight along the Sturt Highway. The capital of Tropical North Victoria is in a league of its own.

    From the moment you arrive in Mildura , the warm air and palm trees invite you to slow down. While most Australians might drive right past it, Mildura is full of surprises. Here you’ll spend one day witnessing over 50,000 years of First Nations history in a UNESCO-listed National Park, and the next dining in a hatted restaurant after wandering through 12,500 fireflies as the outback sunset bursts to life above. From roadside fruit stalls and family-run wineries to houseboats and galleries, it’s time to explore Mildura.

    Feast Street, at the heart of Langtree Avenue in Mildura.
    Taste, wander and be surprised in Mildura.

    Taste Mildura’s produce

    It makes sense to start your trip by addressing the most important question: where to eat. In the beating heart of Australia’s food bowl, sample the local produce directly from the source. And then, of course, experience it through the menu of a hatted chef. Or sandwiched between pillowy slices of Nonna’s ciabatta.

    Rows of orchards and olive groves invite you to spend the day traipsing from farm to farm. Taste olives propagated from Calabrian trees brought over in the 40s, oranges picked right from the tree and squeezed into juice and spoons full of honey . Bring the holiday back to your kitchen by stocking your pantry at roadside produce stalls, or calling into the ‘silver shed ’ (Sunraysia’s gourmand Mecca).

    Thanks to the warm, balmy air and fertile soils, the wineries dotted along these hills produce award-winning local wines. Like Chalmers , a family-run, innovative winery dedicated to making their wines as sustainable as possible. And picturesque Trentham Estate offers views of the snaking Murray River as you sample their vintages.

    Venture beyond the gnarled shadows of olive groves and fragrant rows of blossoming fruit trees and you’ll find an otherworldly side to Mildura. With Discover Mildura as your guide, visit Murray River Salt’s Mars-like stacks. The naturally pink salt is formed from an ancient inland sea and evaporated entirely by the sun to create one of the region’s most iconic exports.

    Start your day with just-squeezed sunshine.

    Hatted dining & Italian history

    Mildura is home to a proud community of Calabrians and Sicilians. This, paired with the exceptional local produce, means that you can find paninos on par with those in Italy. The Italian is a Paninoteca serving up made-to-order, hefty, authentic Sicilian paninos. Nonna Rosa’s pork meatballs, slowly cooked in tomato ragu and served in a crusty, fluffy roll topped with gratings of Grana Padano cheese and salsa verde, will call you back to Mildura for the rest of your days.

    To find hatted dining in Mildura, simply follow the staircase down into the basement of the historic Mildura Grand Hotel to find Stefano’s . Following the muscle memory and instinct of his Italian roots, he delivers on the principle of ‘cucina povera’. That is, the Italian cooking ideology that turns simple, local ingredients into magic.

    Things to do in Mildura include dining at the acclaimed Stefano’s, where simple local ingredients are transformed into Italian culinary magic beneath the historic Grand Hotel.
    Bite into Mildura’s Italian heritage.

    Discover a thriving culture scene

    The city is alive with culture. Whether it’s painted on the town’s walls, told in ancient yarns, or waiting for you in a gallery.

    The Mildura Arts Centre was Australia’s first regional art gallery. Behind the walls of Rio Vista Historic House, you’ll find a lineup of ever-changing exhibitions. The gallery’s wall space pays tribute to the art and songlines of local First Nations People, the region’s awe-inspiring landscapes and more. Outside, on the gallery’s lawn, find 12 contemporary sculptures in the Sculpture Park.

    Mildura’s streetscapes are a punch of colour. Swirling strokes of paint blend the winding artery of the Murray River, red dirt and local characters into a story you can see with your own eyes, thanks to the Mildura City Heart’s Mural Art Project . Pick up a copy of the Murals of Mildura guide from the Visitor Information Centre.

    Follow the border of NSW and Victoria on a map and you’ll see it hugs the curves of a tiny island on the Murray. That’s Lock Island, where, as the sun and moon trade places, the island comes alive as darkness falls. The island is dotted with 12,500 firefly lights that lead you on a meandering path through the outback sunset. The installation is known as Trail of Lights and was created by the same visionary who dreamt up Field of Light at Uluṟu, Bruce Munro.

    Things to do in Mildura include exploring its rich cultural scene. From vibrant street art and ancient stories to exhibitions at the Mildura Arts Centre, Australia’s first regional gallery.
    Find culture around every corner.

    Wonder at ancient landscapes

    The landscapes of Mildura feel almost transcendental. The skyline bursts to life with reds, pinks, and deep, sparkly night skies.

    The nature will leave you in awe. See hues of pink water changing with the weather at Pink Lakes inside Victoria’s largest national park, Murray Sunset National Oark. Cast a line into Ouyen Lake. Watch the sunset against 70-metre tall red cliffs that reflect the setting sun. Or get the heart racing and sandboard down the Perry Sandhills dunes, formed 40,000 years ago at the end of an ice age.

    Just don’t leave without following the twists and turns of the Murray. Stroll or ride along the Shared River Front Path, or jump onboard a boat for a scenic ride.

    Your itinerary will be incomplete without a visit to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park . Head out with an Indigenous ranger to witness ancient campsites and footprints, before standing in awe of ancient civilisation near the discovery site of Mungo Man—Australia’s oldest human skeleton at 42,000 years old.

    Mungo National Park at night is a vast, silent landscape where ancient dunes glow under moonlight and stars blanket the sky in breathtaking clarity.
    Walk in the footsteps of ancient civilisation.

    Meet your home away from home

    On equal par with planning your meals and adventures, is finding the perfect place to relax at the end of each day.

    Sleep inside a Palm Springs postcard at Kar-Rama . A sleek boutique hotel complete with a butterfly shaped, sun-soaked pool. Here you’re staying right in the heart of Mildura but you’ll feel worlds away. Or if you really wish to connect with nature, a night glamping under the stars at Outback Almonds will have you spellbound.

    When in Mildura it’s only right to stay on one of the Murray River’s iconic houseboats . Wake up each day to the calm waters of the Murray lapping outside your window. Enjoy days full of river swims, fishing and exploring. All boats are solar-powered and can be self-skippered or moored along the river.

    A solar-powered houseboat on the Murray River in Mildura.
    Stay and play on the Murray in a solar houseboat.

    Start planning the perfect getaway at mildura.com .