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