For 100 years, silos have shaped the landscape of many rural towns around Australia. Now, the defunct grain towers of Victoria’s Wimmera-Mallee region provide a new aesthetic as they are transformed into giant works of art.

Guido van Helten, Brim silo art project, 2016. Courtesy Silo Art Trail @siloarttrail
The ‘Silo Art Trail’ is set to become Australia’s largest outdoor gallery stretching 200km and linking six of the state’s smallest towns; Sheep Hills, Brim, Patchewollock, Lascelles, Roseberry and Rupanyup. Led by the Yarriambiack Shire Council in partnership with Melbourne street art company Juddy Roller and Creative Director Shaun Hossack, the project sees internationally renowned street artists – Guido van Helten, Fintan Magee, Rone, Adnate and Volchkova Julia Anatolievna – working closely with community members to create large-scale silo paintings that reflect, or tell a story of the local community.
The first silo in Patchewollock created by street artist Fintan Magee, depicts local sheep and grain farmer, Nick “Noodle” Hulland, chosen due to his connection to the agricultural aspects of the region, his heritage and standing in the community. Guido van Helten’s farmer quartet corresponds to drought-stricken Victorian farming community of Brim. Adnate’s Sheep Hills artwork features Wimmera Elders Ron Marks and Regina Hood, along with two young children, symbolising the passing of Aboriginal culture and knowledge from generation to generation.
Next stop on the ‘Silo Art Trail’ is Rupanyup, with Russian artist Anatolievna who will begin painting on the local Wimmera Grain Company silos in mid-March. Expected to take 14 days to complete, the subject is yet to be confirmed. The artist is actively involved in the global graffiti and street art movement; her work adorns buildings across Russia as well as walls in Indonesia, Malaysia and soon Australia. The full trail program will be launched in mid-2017.