Brim’s successful street-art project has inspired a 200-kilometre Silo Art Trail.

Story by Kathy Mexted

Of all the fundraising and tourism ideas in Brim, none involved taking to a silo with a paintbrush. But that’s what happened in December 2015, after an amazing street-art proposal was put to the community. Renowned artist Guido van Helten was engaged to paint four 30-metre high characters on the concrete exterior of the small Wimmera town’s disused wheat silos. The result has been a major boon for tourism in the area.

Thrilled and somewhat astonished by the success of the project, Yarriambiack Shire and silo owners GrainCorp are again working with award-winning Melbourne street-art company Juddy Roller Studios. This time the project is a 200-kilometre Silo Art Trail beginning at Rupanyup, Vic, and following the road north through Sheep Hills, Brim, Rosebery, Lascelles and finally Patchewollock, 150 kilometres south of Mildura near the Wyperfeld National Park. 

“The towns have been carefully chosen to follow a natural path and to encourage tourists through more of the vast Wimmera and Mallee regions,” says Marianne Ferguson, Community Development Officer at the Yarriambiack Shire Council. “The trail is only a short deviation for travellers on the Melbourne to Mildura track and at 3.5 hours out, Rupanyup is a logical first lunch stop.”

This story excerpt is from Issue #109

Outback Magazine: Oct/Nov 2016