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.
New South Wales
1. Barraba
👨🎨️ Fintan Magee
2. Dunedoo
👨🎨️ Peter Mortimore
3. Grenfell
👨🎨️ Heesco Khosnaran
4. Merriwa
👨🎨️ David Lee Pereira
5. Portland
👨🎨️ Guido van Helten
6. Weethalle
👨🎨️ Heesco
Queensland
7. Thallon
👨🎨️ Joel Fergie and Travis Vinson
8. Yelarbon
👨🎨️ Jordache Castillejos, Jordon Bruce, and Steve Falco
9. Three Moon
👨🎨️ Joel Fergie and Travis Vinson
South Australia
10. Coonalpyn
👨🎨️ Guido van Helten
11. Cowell
👨🎨️ ! N I T S U A
12. Karoonda
👨🎨️ Heesco
13. Kimba
👨🎨️ Cam Scale
14. Tumby Bay
👨🎨️ Martin Ron
15. Waikerie
👨🎨️ Jimmy DVate and Garry Duncan
16. Wirrabara
👨🎨️ Smug
17. Quorn Light Show
👨🎨️ Illuminart
Western Australia
18. Albany
👨🎨️ Yok & Sheryo
19. Merredin
👨🎨️ Kyle Hughes-Odgers
20. Newdegate
👨🎨️ Brenton See
21. Northam
👨🎨️ Phlegm and Hense
22. Pingrup
👨🎨️ Evoca1
23. Ravensthorpe
👨🎨️ Amok Island
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.
24. Brim
👨🎨️ Guido van Helten
25. Colbinabbin
👨🎨️Tim Bowtell
26. Devenish
👨🎨️ Cam Scale
27. Goorambat
👨🎨️ Jimmy Dvate
28. Lascelles
👨🎨️ Rone
29. Nullawil
👨🎨️ Smug
30. Patchewollock
👨🎨️ Fintan Magee
31. Rochester
👨🎨️ Jimmy DVate
32. Rosebery
👨🎨️ Kaff-eine
33. Rupanyup
👨🎨️ Julia Volchkova
34. St Arnaud
👨🎨️ Kyle Torney
35. St James
👨🎨️ Tim Bowtell
36. Sea Lake
👨🎨️ Joel Fergie & Travis Vinson
37. Sheep Hills
👨🎨️ Adnate
38. Tungamah
👨🎨️ Sobrane
39. Woomelang
👨🎨️ Jimmy Dvate, Kaff-eine, Andrew J Bourke, Mike Makatron, Chuck Mayfield, Bryan Itch
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)