Your Victorian Silo Art Road Trip

The Victorian Silo Art Road Trip is one of the more unique adventures you’ll have here in Australia. It starts in the northwest of Victoria, approximately a three-hour drive outside of Melbourne CBD. Silos are an essential part of the agricultural industry in Victoria, used to store grain for the many farms that have business here. This road trip takes you across hundreds of kilometres of farmland, from barley and wheat fields to legumes and rye. Drive along through the countryside towns and see the silos towering above the farmlands below - and in some cases, see the incredible artwork designed by renowned artists. Considered the largest outdoor gallery in Australia, the silos are simply magical, adorned with commissioned artwork that gives insight into the community and culture of the towns. This blog will be all about the Victorian silo art road trip so that you can enjoy an adventure away from the crowds and in a beautiful area of the state.

How Long Is the Road Trip?

The road trip starts in Rupanyup if you’re coming from Melbourne. Rupanyup is 289 kilometres from Melbourne CBD, roughly three hours in journey time. The road trip stretches over 160 kilometres up to Patchewollock, ending up in Nullawil, which is 120 kilometres east of Patchewollock. We recommend giving yourself a few days to enjoy the art and the area, so be sure to organise accommodation in a couple of the towns.

When Should I Do This Road Trip?

Victoria is a great state to visit any time of the year. However, during the summer months, it does get very hot - with temperatures often hitting 40 degrees celsius or more. The spring and autumn months would probably be the best time to go, with fair weather, sunny days, and cooler nights.

Rupanyup, Sheep Hills, and Brim Silo Art

Each town has its own unique artwork on the silos.

In Rupanyup, the artwork consists of two greyscale portraits designed by Julia Volchkova, a Russian mural artist. These portraits are on twin steel silos that tower above the town below. Completed in 2017, the artwork shows the town’s youth and the love of sport in the community: one silo is of a female in netball gear, and the other is a male in an AFL uniform.

The Sheep Hills silo art was completed in 2016 by Adnate, a Melbourne-based artist. It’s a vivid mural that shows the town’s Aboriginal history, community, and connection, with portraits of two Elders and young children underneath a purple night sky that shows the local Dreamtime stories. It’s simply beautiful to look at and is a fantastic depiction of the community in the town.

Brim’s silo art was the first to be completed in Victoria and was the inspiration for the rest of the art trail. It was completed in 2016 by Guido van Helten, and shows a multi-generational family of farmers. Representing the strength and resilience of the community, it gives a great insight into the Australian farming industry.

Rosebery, Patchewollock, and Lascelles Silo Art

As you drive up north, you’ll visit the towns of Rosebery, Patchewollock and Lascelles.

Rosebery has silo artwork designed by Kaff-eine. She spent time exploring the region in 2017; the art is of a young female farmer, a horseman, and his steed. This mural represents two typical workers in the region.

Fintan Magee designed the silo in Patchewollock in 2016. It’s a colourful representation of the typical Aussie farmer, and a great representation of all the hard work done in the region. Magee painted this after spending time in the local pub, meeting locals, and finding the right muse for this piece of work.

The silo art in Lascelles is a portrait of Geoff and Merrilyn Horman. They’re two members of a family that have been in the local area for four generations. Rone, a Melbourne-based artist, painted this to show that the families here have been here for many years, adding to the sense of community in the town.

Sea Lake and Nullawil Silo Art

Finally, we head to Sea Lake and Nullawil, the final two stops on the Silo Art Trail.

The Sea Lake mural is the trail's most colourful and vibrant artwork. It’s of a girl swinging over Lake Tyrrell, with the beautiful sunset acting as the perfect backdrop. This mural was completed by two artists, The Zookeeper and Drapl.

Finally, Nullawill pays respect to the Australian working dog. It’s of a Kelpie, the much-loved companion to many farmers here in Australia. Completed in 2019 by the artist Smug, it’s the final stop of an incredible road trip.

The Silo Art Road Trip is truly unlike any other. Set amongst hundreds of kilometres of farmland, these silos demonstrate the community, the livelihood, and the characters of the Victorian countryside. Visit this area when you can and immerse yourself in something truly spectacular.