Goorambat - Small Town Big Art - North East Art Trail

The First Silo – the Barking Owl

The small town of Goorambat joined the Australian Silo Art community in 2019 with the painting of their first silo by renowned street artist Jimmy DVate. The painting was of Milli the Barking Owl, who is a resident at Healesville Sanctuary and an endangered bird species which were found in the area until very recently. Whilst staying within the Goorambat community, Jimmy decided to paint a second silo to complement the first one – this time the habitat of the barking owl.

Painted in 2018 by Jimmy DVate. — Milli of Goorambat silos

Painting of Milli by Jimmy Dvate — Millibar the Barking Owl
Milli is a resident of the Healesville Sanctuary. The community chose this pose from a large selection of photos taken by Jimmy to paint on their first silo in 2018.

Lara Vella at the top of the silos, courtesy of the Greaves Family. — Today Show being filmed in Goorambat 3

A few months later, the town held an official opening ceremony, and representatives from Healesville Sanctuary came to ‘open’ the silos to the public, with Jimmy and his wife Carmen returning for the ceremony.

The Goorambat & District Community Group built a fabulous viewing area, on a small patch of land donated by the Greaves family, owners of these fully working silos.

The Clydesdale Horses

Artist Jimmy DVate — Clydesdale Silo being prepared

The Trewin and Martin families in front of the silo being painted by DVate in 2019. — Clydesdale silo - Goorambat

Artist Jimmy DVate spent 2 weeks painting these magnificent horses. — Clydesdale Silo being painted

Jimmy DVate spray painting the feet shows how massive these silos are. — Clydesdale Silo at work

In 2019 a third silo was painted as part of the Benalla Wall to Wall Festival, and after the success of the first two the town invited Jimmy DVate back to paint the town’s famous Clydesdale Horses, Clem, Sam and Banjo.

Clydesdale horses have always been the backbone of the Goorambat farming community. This ancient breed of horse have been used for farming from the time of the first settlers until long after the first tractor arrived in Goorambat in 1924, and to this day are one of the most beloved work animals of the district.

In 2017 the Clydesdale was removed from the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia’s endangered list as there are now has enough registered horses in its studbook in Australia to no longer be considered in danger of extinction. The Commonwealth Clydesdale Horse Society of Australia reported numbers were above 3000, enough to be considered “safe”.

Clem and Banjo were bred in the area by Graeme Trewin at the prize-winning Lavereen Stud, founded 1920. They were later sold to the Martin family of Toowoomba, QLD who then bred Sam, a grandson of Banjo.

The silo painting was taken from an original photograph by Bob Britcher AFIP AAPS PSQA, and was then adapted in the painting to incorporate topical items such as the farmer’s hat on Sam’s back!

Sophia – Goorambat Uniting Church

Artist Matt Adnate — Sophia - being painted

Inside the Goorambat Uniting Church, at the altar end. — Sophia

Photo courtesy of Irene Ham. — Sophia during a church service

In 2017, art in Goorambat started with the painting of ‘Sophia, the female representation of God’ in the tiny Uniting Church. This phenomenon started the massive influx of tourists coming through the town annually, and has widely been touted as one of the best wall arts ever. Created by Matt Adnate over a 2-week period, it was intended to be open to the public for the Easter holiday break that year, but after the massive popularity it has enjoyed, the church doors are now open with a screen door in place due to COVID, during daylight hours most of the year, except when there is a church service in progress.

The Big Shed

In 2021, post COVID lockdowns, Jimmy DVate returned yet again to Goorambat to paint the front wall of the large shed on the Greaves property, at the Benalla end of the silos. As you enter town, just before the bend in the road, you can see the beautiful Nankeen Kestrel in front of you, and there is a small car park area on the left of the road so that you can park up and take photos.