If you want to see these street art murals, then it’s time to leave the city behind.
Thanks to a number of creative projects and government grants, country towns around Australia are being transformed into sites of world-class street and mural art. Painted on massive grain silos, water tanks and increasingly covering entire towns, they are changing the landscape of the Australian bush for the better.
The grain silos are particularly incredible. Many of them are close to 100 years old and stand tens of metres tall. For so long they have remained blank and bland, serving no other purpose than the one they were built for. However, in the past few years, they have taken on particular importance.
Not only are these new outdoor art galleries driving up tourist numbers for all but forgotten places and keeping businesses afloat, many also depict and represent the local people, illustrating a real sense of place, and telling the stories of the bush to those who have only come for a visit.
So, the next time you jump in the car for a drive into the country—whether it’s for a cross-country road trip, a one-day adventure or a nighttime city escape to see the stars—check out one or more of these tremendous murals.
With more than 30 grain silos painted, there’s a good chance you might be passing one by. Even if you’re not, a detour ain’t so bad when you’ve got these to look forward to.
Afterward, you could take a break at the bakery in town for a pie and coffee or stop off at the local watering hole to meet the townspeople and hear the stories straight from the horse’s mouth.
Victoria
*The Victorian Silo Art Trail from Patchewollock in the state’s north-west to Rupanyup in the south, runs approximately 200 kilometres and connects eight silos in one two-hour road trip.
1. Brim
👨🎨️ Guido van Helten
2. Colbinabbin
👨🎨️Tim Bowtell
3. Devenish
👨🎨️ Cam Scale
4. Goorambat
👨🎨️ Jimmy Dvate
5. Lascelles
👨🎨️ Rone
6. Nullawil
👨🎨️ Smug
7. Patchewollock
👨🎨️ Fintan Magee
8. Rochester
👨🎨️ Jimmy DVate
9. Rosebery
👨🎨️ Kaff-eine
10. Rupanyup
👨🎨️ Julia Volchkova
11. St Arnaud
👨🎨️ Kyle Torney
12. St James
👨🎨️ Tim Bowtell
13. Sea Lake
👨🎨️ Joel Fergie & Travis Vinson
14. Sheep Hills
👨🎨️ Adnate
15. Tungamah
👨🎨️ Sobrane
16. Woomelang
👨🎨️ Jimmy Dvate, Kaff-eine, Andrew J Bourke, Mike Makatron, Chuck Mayfield, Bryan Itch
New South Wales
17. Barraba
👨🎨️ Fintan Magee
18. Dunedoo
👨🎨️ Peter Mortimore
19. Grenfell
👨🎨️ Heesco Khosnaran
20. Merriwa
👨🎨️ David Lee Pereira
21. Portland
👨🎨️ Guido van Helten
22. Weethalle
👨🎨️ Heesco
Queensland
23. Thallon
👨🎨️ Joel Fergie and Travis Vinson
24. Yelarbon
👨🎨️ Jordache Castillejos, Jordon Bruce, and Steve Falco
25. Three Moon
👨🎨️ Joel Fergie and Travis Vinson
South Australia
26. Coonalpyn
👨🎨️ Guido van Helten
27. Cowell
👨🎨️ ! N I T S U A
28. Karoonda
👨🎨️ Heesco
29. Kimba
👨🎨️ Cam Scale
30. Tumby Bay
👨🎨️ Martin Ron
31. Waikerie
👨🎨️ Jimmy DVate and Garry Duncan
32. Wirrabara
👨🎨️ Smug
33. Quorn Light Show
👨🎨️ Illuminart
Western Australia
34. Albany
👨🎨️ Yok & Sheryo
35. Merredin
👨🎨️ Kyle Hughes-Odgers
36. Newdegate
👨🎨️ Brenton See
37. Northam
👨🎨️ Phlegm and Hense
38. Pingrup
👨🎨️ Evoca1
39. Ravensthorpe
👨🎨️ Amok Island
Huge credit must go to Annette and Eric Green who continue to document painted silos, water tanks and street art towns on their website Australian Silo Art Trail as part of their road-tripping adventures around the country.
(Featured image: @loveinwildplaces)