Explore Victoria’s little-known Silo Art Trail

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.

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!

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.

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.

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)

Abandoned mills and forgotten paper plants are finding second lives – and helping redefine a city long underestimated.

Just 15 years ago, Federal Mills was a very different place. Once among the most significant industrial sites in Victoria, the historic woollen mill was one of a dozen that operated in Geelong at the industry’s peak in the mid-20th century, helping the city earn its title as ‘wool centre of the world’. But by the 1960s global competition and the rise of synthetic fabrics led to the slow decline of the industry, and Federal Mills finally shuttered its doors in 2001. Within a few years, the abandoned North Geelong grounds had become makeshift pastoral land, with cows and goats grazing among the overgrown grass between the empty red-brick warehouses. It was a forgotten pocket of the city, all but two klicks from the bustle of the CBD.

Geelong cellar door wine bar — Geelong has shed its industrial identity to become an innovative urban hub with reimagined heritage spaces. (Image: Ash Hughes)

Federal Mills: from forgotten factory to creative precinct

Today, the century-old complex stands reborn. The distinctive sawtooth-roof buildings have been sensitively restored. An old silo is splashed with a bright floral mural, landscapers have transformed the grounds, and the precinct is once again alive with activity. More than 1000 people work across 50-plus businesses here. It’s so busy, in fact, that on a sunny Thursday morning in the thick of winter, it’s hard to find a car park. The high ceilings, open-plan design, and large multi-paned windows – revolutionary features for factories of their time – have again become a drawcard.

Paddock Bakery andPatisserie — Paddock Bakery and Patisserie is housed within the historic wool factory. (Image: Gallant Lee)

At Paddock , one of the precinct’s newer tenants, weaving looms and dye vats have been replaced by a wood-fired brick oven and heavy-duty mixers. Open since April 2024, the bakery looks right at home here; the building’s industrial shell is softened by ivy climbing its steel frames, and sunlight streams through the tall windows. Outside, among the white cedar trees, families at picnic benches linger over dippy eggs and bagels, while white-collar workers pass in and out, single-origin coffee and crème brûlée doughnuts in hand.

Geelong: Australia’s only UNESCO City of Design

Paddock Bakery can be found at Federal Mills. (Image: Gallant Lee)

“A lot of people are now seeing the merit of investing in Geelong,” says Paul Traynor, the head of Hamilton Hospitality Group, which redeveloped Federal Mills. A city once shunned as Sleepy Hollow, and spurned for its industrial, working-class roots and ‘rust belt’ image, Geelong has long since reclaimed its ‘Pivot City’ title, having reinvented itself as an affordable, lifestyle-driven satellite city, and a post-COVID migration hotspot.

And the numbers stand testament to the change. In March 2025, and for the first time in its history, Greater Geelong became Australia’s most popular regional town for internal migration, overtaking Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Current forecasts suggest Geelong will continue to outpace many other Australian cities and towns, with jobs growing at double the rate of the population.

Tourism is booming, too. The 2023-24 financial year was Geelong and The Bellarine region’s busiest on record, with 6.4 million visitors making it one of the fastest-growing destinations in the country. It’s not hard to see why: beyond the city’s prime positioning at the doorstep of the Great Ocean Road, Geelong’s tenacity and cultural ambition stands out.

As Australia’s only UNESCO City of Design, Geelong is swiftly shaking off its industrial past to become a model for urban renewal, innovation, sustainability and creative communities. The signs are everywhere, from the revitalisation of the city’s waterfront, and the landmark design of the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre and Geelong Arts Centre, to the growing network of local designers, architects and artists, and the burgeoning roster of festivals and events. That’s not even mentioning the adaptive reuse of storied old industrial buildings – from Federal Mills, to Little Creatures’ brewery ‘village’ housed within a 1920s textile mill – or the city’s flourishing food and wine scene.

The rise of a food and wine destination

Restaurant 1915 is housed within a restored former boiler house. (Image: Harry Pope/Two Palms)

Traynor credits now-closed local restaurant Igni, which opened in 2016, as the turning point for Geelong’s hospo industry. “[Aaron Turner, Igni’s chef-patron] was probably the first guy, with all due respect, to raise the bar food-wise for Geelong,” he says. “People now treat it really seriously, and there’s clearly a market for it.” While Igni is gone, Turner now helms a string of other notable Geelong venues, including The Hot Chicken Project and Tacos y Liquor, all within the buzzy, street art-speckled laneways of the CBD’s Little Malop Street Precinct. Many others have also popped up in Igni’s wake, including Federal Mills’ own restaurant, 1915 . Housed within the cavernous boiler house, 1915’s interior is dramatic: soaring, vaulted ceilings with timber beams, exposed brick, a huge arched window. The share plates echo the space’s bold character, playing with contrast and texture, with dishes such as a compressed watermelon tataki, the sweet, juicy squares tempered by salty strands of fried leeks, and charred, smoky snow peas dusted with saganaki on a nutty bed of romesco.

The Woolstore , one of The Hamilton Group’s most recent hospo projects, opened in February. It occupies a century-old riverside warehouse and exudes a more sultry, fine dining ambience. Much like Federal Mills, the blueprint was to preserve the original brickwork, tallowwood flooring and nods to the building’s former life. That same careful consideration extends to the well-versed, affable waitstaff as well as the kitchen. Head chef Eli Grubb is turning out an eclectic mix of ambitious and indulgent mod Oz dishes that deliver: strikingly tender skewers of chicken tsukune, infused with hints of smoke from the parrilla grill, and glazed with a moreish, sweet gochujang ‘jam’; nduja arancini fragrant with hints of aniseed and the earthy lick of sunny saffron aioli; and golden squares of potato pavé, adorned with tiny turrets of crème fraîche, crisp-fried saltbush leaves, and Avruga caviar, to name but a few stand-out dishes.

Woolstore menu — Woolstore’s menu is designed for sharing.

Breathing new life into historic spaces

On the city’s fringe, hidden down a winding side road with little fanfare, lies a long-dormant site that’s being gently revived. Built from locally quarried bluestone and brick, and dating back to the 1870s, the complex of original tin-roofed mill buildings is lush with greenery and backs onto the Barwon River and Buckley Falls; the audible rush of water provides a soothing soundtrack. Fyansford Paper Mill is one of few complexes of its time to survive intact. It feels steeped in history and spellbindingly rustic.

“We were looking for an old industrial place that had some charm and romance to it,” explains Sam Vogel, the owner, director and winemaker at Provenance Wines which moved here in 2018. When he first viewed the building with his former co-owner, it was in such a state of disrepair that the tradie tenant occupying the space had built a shed within it to escape the leaking roof and freezing winter temperatures. “To say it was run down would be an understatement,” he notes. “There was ivy growing through the place; the windows were all smashed. It was a classic Grand Designs project.”

Provenance Wines moved to Fyansford Paper Mill in 2018. (Image: Cameron Murray Photography)

The team has since invested more than a million dollars into their new home. Where paper processing machinery once sat, wine barrels are now stacked. Vaulted cathedral ceilings are strung with festoon lights, and hidden in plain sight lies a shadowy mural by local street artist de rigueur Rone – one of only three permanent works by the artist.

While the award-winning, cool-climate pinot noir, riesling and chardonnay naturally remain a key draw at Provenance, the winery’s restaurant is a destination in itself. Impressed already by whipsmart service, I devour one of the most cleverly curated and faultlessly executed degustations I’ve had in some time. It’s all prepared in a kitchen that is proudly zero-waste, and committed to providing seasonal, ethical and locally sourced meat and produce under head chef Nate McIver. Think free-range venison served rare with a syrupy red wine jus and a half-moon of neon-orange kosho, shokupan with a deeply savoury duck fat jus (a modern Japanese take on bread and drippings), and a golden potato cake adorned with a colourful confetti of dehydrated nasturtiums and tomato powder, and planted atop a sea urchin emulsion.

handcrafted pieces — Bell’s handcrafted functional pieces on display.

The complex is home to a coterie of independent businesses, including a gallery, a jeweller, and its latest tenant, ceramicist Elizabeth Bell, drawn here by the building’s “soul”. “There’s so much potential for these buildings to have new life breathed into them,” says Bell, whose studio is housed within the old pump room. “Even people in Geelong don’t know we’re here,” she says. “It’s definitely a destination, but I like that. It has a really calming atmosphere.”

A Melbourne transplant, Bell now feels at home in Geelong, which offers something Melbourne didn’t. “If this business was in Melbourne I don’t think it would’ve been as successful,” she notes. “It’s very collaborative in Geelong, and I don’t think you get that as much in Melbourne; you’re a bit more in it for yourself. Here it’s about community over competition.”

Explore Victoria’s little-known Silo Art Trail

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

DAY ONE: Melbourne to Rupanyup

Rupanyup

Must-see

Georgia Goodie artwork, Rupanyup

Stay

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

Sheep Hills

Goroke

Kaniva

Brim

Must-see

Stay

DAY THREE: Brim to Rosebery, Albacutya and Patchewollock

Rosebery

Albacutya

Patchewollock

Must-see

Lake Albacutya

The Big Mallee Fowl

Stay

DAY FOUR: Patchewollock to Lascelles and Sea Lake

Lascelles

Sea Lake

Must-see

Lake Tyrrell

Stay

DAY FIVE: Sea Lake to Melbourne via Nullawil

Nullawil

This new multi-day alpine hike turns into a festival each night

Time travel to ‘80s Tokyo at this new disco bar in Melbourne

Melbourne’s floating sauna combines relaxation and city views

A new bathhouse is transforming the historic heart of South Melbourne

Inside Geelong’s glow-up from factory town to creative capital

Abandoned mills and forgotten paper plants are finding second lives – and helping redefine a city long underestimated.

Federal Mills: from forgotten factory to creative precinct

Geelong: Australia’s only UNESCO City of Design

The rise of a food and wine destination

Breathing new life into historic spaces