Jaki and Joe Tonna from Melbourne visited the Picola silo while on holidays on Friday. Jaki has connections with the Darveniza family from Mooroopna.
Moira Shire Council was launching its latest promotion for the region’s silo trail, when real tourists turned up for the event.
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Jaki and Joe Tonna from Melbourne arrived at the Picola silos on Friday morning and wondered why there were so many other people there in suits.
They were on holidays and staying at Numurkah’s Lakeside Village when they decided to start a silo art tour and stumbled on the official launch of a brochure map underneath the brightly painted superb parrot on the silo.
Although the brochure was being officially launched, there had already been a distribution of copies which found their way to the Numurkah village and the couple were following the directions and planning to further pursue silos to the east.
In true country style, the couple was invited to join the official party at the nearby Picola pub for the celebratory muffins and coffee.
“Look! Real tourists,” someone uttered, tongue in cheek.
Moira Shire Mayor Libro Mustica and Moira Shire tourism and events manager Cameron Sutton hope there will be many more people picking up brochures for the Melbourne to Murray Silo Art Road Trip and to that end the shire will be distributing thousands of copies.
The new brochure includes the silos at Picola, Tungamah, Devenish, Goorambat and St James, but doesn’t include the silos in Campaspe Shire at Rochester and Colbinabbin.
Asked about the inclusion of two silos from Benalla Shire, but not the two from Campaspe, Cameron Sutton said where the silo art was installed had been unplanned and erratic.
“It’s very hard to market one piece of silo art and we have brought all of ours together because it’s unique in the density,” he said.
“We always look to collaborate, but with our density, we have chosen to go down this path.”
He said Moira Shire was continuing to talk to Echuca-Moama tourism based in Campaspe Shire about working together.
Campaspe Shire has its own “art trail” map with Rochester and Colbinabbin, but not the silos in neighbouring shires.
Cr Mustica said the brochure, which details the road trip, has information about each silo artwork and also lists interesting things to do in that area.
“As well as looking at the beautiful artworks, you can experience awesome country pubs, brilliant bakeries plus Melbourne-quality coffee.
“Interestingly, 10 per cent of Australia’s silo art is found in our region, and there is more to come with designs for Katamatite being finalised and due for completion in early 2023.
“We have been working with all the surrounding businesses to each silo, ensuring they can benefit from the increased traffic and trade opportunities to maximise the visitor economy spend in Moira Shire.
“Each town along the route also has a Visitor Information Point, enabling our local businesses to reach visitors wherever they are across the shire.”
Cr Mustica said 10,000 brochures would be distributed throughout Melbourne over a six-month period.
“There will also be another 10,000 copies distributed locally to our visitor information centres and the VIP network,” he said.
He said Picola was an example of the positive impact on a town, as the recently re-opened Picola hotel illustrated.
The Picola silo art, depicting a superb parrot, being admired by visitors on Friday. The local committee is planning more art on the silo to the left.
Picola publican Bruce Agnew has experienced some of the benefits of the Picola silo art. The pub had been closed for two years, but Mr Agnew purchased the business, renovated inside and opened it late last year.
A map showing completed silos in northern Victoria.
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