With so many silos being painted in a close area during a period of just 2 years, the six tiny towns of Devenish, Dookie, Goorambat, Katamatite, St James and Tungamah met up in late 2019 and decided to start our own ‘trail’…and here we are!
Following in the footsteps of the mighty Australian Silo Art Trail, run from WA, we are focusing on a short trail which can be done in as little as a few hours or spread over a long weekend. With so much art to see in these 6 towns, it would be a shame to rush through without seeing all that rural North East Victoria has to offer. It also gives us the chance to promote our pubs, camping and accommodation in the area, which many people may not be aware of.
Backed by the three large Shire councils – Benalla, Moira and Shepparton – that the 6 towns sit within, we have been working to support each other through the tough times of COVID-19. Fantastic new items such as road signage, toilets and more catering venues are due to appear at the end of 2020 or early 2021, and a lot more art is in progress already.
Goorambat and Devenish have already signed up artists to paint more large murals. St James has received permission to restore their heritage shopfronts, whilst Tungamah’s artist is waiting to be allowed back from Broome to paint yet more artwork around the town after COVID-19 restrictions ease. Katamatite have recieved permission to paint their silo just out of town, and are busy fundraising and applying for grants. Dookie are expanding their ever-growing artwork in all directions.
Watch this space for yet more silos and other artworks from some of the world’s greatest street artists, coming to our tiny rural towns.
The North East Art Trail group became incorporated in 2020, enabling them to start applying for grants to assist the 6 towns. The current committee are from across all of these towns, and meet regularly to put out new ideas.