The Silo Art Trail

The Mallee area of Victoria is mostly flat country, hot and dry, boring to look at, and often too hot for any comfort.   All the same, it is productive country and grows a big percentage of Australia's grain crop most years. (Not counting drought years.)

Mallee, Victoria, Australia

The Mallee is dotted by tiny towns, towns that have been declining in population ever since horses were replaced by tractors.

It is not an area that lures tourists.  Some towns have simply died, others linger on.  There are abandoned houses, abandoned churches.

Many churches these days appear to need propping up.

Few need actual timber supports, however! 












There are derelict buildings, even in main streets.  This is Rupanyup.

But then there is this gorgeous little building in the centre of the street. That is also Rupanyup.

There is this abandoned home in Patchewollock.

But there is also this joyous piece of art, also in Patchewollock.
















The towns might have become rundown, but the people are still full of life, and they want life back in their towns. One way is to attract tourists.  The Silo Art Trail is a genius idea, and it is successful. In caravan parks a long way from the Mallee, I heard talk of it, and many had either just been, or planned to go.  These are mostly the 'Grey Nomad' travellers, who are happy to have a plan for their explorations, and who have money to spend.

In every small town and tiny village of the Mallee, there is a silo.  When these become paintings, they are very, very impressive.

These are tourists at Sheep Hills.

Sheep Hills was the tiniest town we saw, just a few abandoned buildings, and a pub that must have been nice once.  It did not appear to be in use.





And yet, Sheep Hills has this.

I included the people to give some idea of the scale, even though they are closer to the camera.


Below is at Rapunyup.  These silos are not as tall as most, and yet you can see the vehicle parked close.  Those pictures are big! 

The several councils involved have gone to some effort. There are brochures, there are signs, and some of the towns even appear to have put in brand-new and immaculately clean toilets - a thing of importance for travellers.

Six towns (if you can call Sheep Hills a town) with painted silos.  Other towns with street art and open air sculptures.  They are all deserving of a visit.  

The Mallee Fowl sculptures (left)  are at Patchewollock.

Just a couple of years ago, we visited Minyip.  We were saddened to see it so rundown.  But now, there are new shops opened, and everything seems to have been cleaned up.  While Minyip does not have its own silo art, it is a pleasant place to visit, and does have some street art to admire. 

Brim's silo paintings (above)  were the first.  I think they are the best of all, 

though the photograph above does not show the figures to full effect

due to the sun being directly behind them. 

The visionary councils of the Mallee Silo Art Trail deserve credit.  They have brought life back to their portion of the world, and they have given travellers something marvellous to look at.

They deserve support,  so next time you are in Victoria, make a trip to the Mallee to enjoy the silos.  Just follow the green-marked route.   (But not in the middle of Summer.  It can get very hot there.)