Saturday 20 July 2024

The Great Silo Art Tour

I decided a little while back that I would like to see the silo art of New South Wales. It's taken a while but this last week I embarked on my own little Silo Art Tour. The link will give you a map because despite many tries, I didn't succeed at making a graphic.

I haven't been to every painted silo, I had thought I would but after a week on the road in the coldest cold snap of the winter, I decided to come home and take another trip to see the rest.

I also went to Western Plains Zoo and thought it was fabulous. I'll show you the photos from the zoo another time.


So I learned that I get sick of driving after a few days.

I learned that I don't much care what kind of room I have so long as it's got a powerpoint for my cpap and no steps.

I learnt that we have some great silo art.




Merriwa





Quirindi



Quirindi





Quirindi



Quirindi






Barraba

 

Gunnedah






Dunedoo



Dunedoo





Dunedoo



Dunedoo

28 comments:

  1. That looks fabulous - and I brought himself down to view your photos and he agreed.
    Dubbo Zoo is excellent isn't it? I was shouted a night there for my birthday a few years back and had a fabulous time.

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    1. I loved the art, there is some sculpture to come.
      Zoo tickets are valid for two days and I used mine for two days. A night there would be amazing

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  2. How very interesting and beautiful. Is silo art a thing just in NSW? I have never heard of this custom.

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    1. Hi Linda,
      Silo art can be seen in most states of Australia. A quick bit if research suggests the first one was painted in 2015 so it is now a tradition but a newish one. Tiny towns use them as a way to bring visitors and I suppose foster community spirit

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    2. I meant to ask--how far did you drive?

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    3. about 1600 km or 990 miles

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  3. I haven't seen photos of NSW silos, let alone seen any, so that was very interesting. They really such wonderful works of art. Once you tick off all the NSW silos, then you can start on Victoria.

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  4. Oh Kylie these are brilliant. The work gone into them is astonishing. I couldn't pick out a favourite but I do love the mini-me ones on the sides of some of them. Well done on capturing them so beautifully!
    XO
    WWW

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    1. "The Diviner" at Barraba has caught attention internationally.
      I think it was my favourite, though who could choose?

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  5. What a wonderful trip. I have never seen anything even remotely like that here, but now I am going to pay more attention when we drive across the country.

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    1. I just looked it up and there is silo art but it's all very widespread. I hope you get to see some!

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  6. Well I never knew anything about Australian silo art until I read this blogpost. Some great examples to accompany the writing.

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    1. Yorkie, I'm sorry this comment of yours got lost in spam. I hope to bring more photos of silo art at some point

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  7. I went on a tour of the silos in Western Victoria and into South Australia back in 2016 or so... this was the first time I had heard of public art on grain silos. They were very impressive, as I can show you on
    https://melbourneblogger.blogspot.com/2018/06/public-art-in-rural-australia-grain.html

    But the NSW silos look far more recent, with stronger colours, fewer browns and more complex designs. Your tour map will be very helpful, thankyou.

    Hels
    Art and Architecture, mainly

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Hels. You were ahead of the crowd visiting silos in 2018!

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  8. What an amazing trip. Looks like you had fun.

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  9. That is truly amazing. I confess that when I did my Australian touring I don't recall any such art. However that was a long time ago.

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    1. Graham as far as I can tell, it's a newish thing: maybe 10 years since the first

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  10. Those silos are astonishing. I had no idea silo art was so common in Oz. It was sensible of you to break off and continue your silo trip at a later date. I would also be sick of driving after a few days.

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    1. Nick, I think a trip is generally more fun in company so while I've always enjoyed driving, I think that without the distraction of conversation it becomes more of a chore.
      If I aim to see Victorian silos, I wont be so likely to just drop it and come home so it might be a good thing I'm building up to it :)

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  11. These are amazing works of art! Thank you for posting about them. I see from the comments and your replies that they are relatively new. Let's hope you get to see more and share them with us. I especially love the cow in that last one, lol.

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    1. I hope to see more, as well.
      Did you notice the cotton next to the cow? There was cotton on the reception desk in my hotel. It's nice to see it used as a decorative element

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    2. I missed that! I remember in home economics when we studied about different natural fibers that are made into cloth, the teacher showed us a real cotton boll. Cotton is not grown in our country so it was interesting to me and made much more impact than seeing a picture. How wonderfully unique that they were used as decoration at your hotel.

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  12. rhymeswithplague5:00 am, August 03, 2024

    I have been out of circulation for a bit with cataract surgery on both eyes, so I'm a bit late to the party, but I want to join all the others in complimenting you on a wonderfully astonishing post. In my case, it is truly a sight for sore eyes (although my eyes aren't really sore, but you get what I mean, and the brilliant Technicolor was not lost on me and my new vision. Great job, kylie!

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    1. Thank you, Robert! I'm glad you enjoyed it

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