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—we think, 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.
Queensland
Thallon
👨🎨️ Joel Fergie and Travis Vinson
Yelarbon
👨🎨️ Jordache Castillejos, Jordon Bruce, and Steve Falco
Three Moon
👨🎨️ Joel Fergie and Travis Vinson
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.
Brim
👨🎨️ Guido van Helten
Colbinabbin
👨🎨️Tim Bowtell
Devenish
👨🎨️ Cam Scale
Goorambat
👨🎨️ Jimmy Dvate
Lascelles
👨🎨️ Rone
Nullawil
👨🎨️ Smug
Patchewollock
👨🎨️ Fintan Magee
Rochester
👨🎨️ Jimmy DVate
Rosebery
👨🎨️ Kaff-eine
Rupanyup
👨🎨️ Julia Volchkova
St Arnaud
👨🎨️ Kyle Torney
St James
👨🎨️ Tim Bowtell
Sea Lake
👨🎨️ Joel Fergie & Travis Vinson
Sheep Hills
👨🎨️ Adnate
Tungamah
👨🎨️ Sobrane
Woomelang
👨🎨️ Jimmy Dvate, Kaff-eine, Andrew J Bourke, Mike Makatron, Chuck Mayfield, Bryan Itch
New South Wales
Barraba
👨🎨️ Fintan Magee
Dunedoo
👨🎨️ Peter Mortimore
Grenfell
👨🎨️ Heesco Khosnaran
Merriwa
👨🎨️ David Lee Pereira
Portland
👨🎨️ Guido van Helten
Weethalle
👨🎨️ Heesco
South Australia
Coonalpyn
👨🎨️ Guido van Helten
Cowell
👨🎨️ ! N I T S U A
Karoonda
👨🎨️ Heesco
Kimba
👨🎨️ Cam Scale
Tumby Bay
👨🎨️ Martin Ron
Waikerie
👨🎨️ Jimmy DVate and Garry Duncan
Wirrabara
👨🎨️ Smug
Quorn Light Show
👨🎨️ Illuminart
Western Australia
Albany
👨🎨️ Yok & Sheryo
Merredin
👨🎨️ Kyle Hughes-Odgers
Newdegate
👨🎨️ Brenton See
Northam
👨🎨️ Phlegm and Hense
Pingrup
👨🎨️ Evoca1
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)