Discover the Painted Silos
23 – 29th September 2023
On Saturday we all arrived early at the Bakers Hill Pie shop and enjoyed second breakfast before heading out to our first stop at the Northam Silo. These feature whimsical flying machines by a UK artist and at the opposite end an aboriginal inspired design. From here we travelled to the Meckering Fault line and visited the ruins of Salisbury homestead destroyed in the 1968 earthquake. After visits to the Ettamogah Pub and Kellerberrin hill our final stop for the day was shark rock which everyone agreed looked more like a whale or T -Rex. Camping the night at Mooranoppin Nature reserve next to two rather quirky buildings and playing bush Jenga next to the campfire.
After a relaxed start on Sunday, we made our way to Baandee Lake, which looks like a great spot for a future stop. Heading next to our second Silo at Merredin with a Harvest theme. Merredin also had a military museum which we visited and then we stopped for lunch at the railway dam. From here we headed south towards Lake Grace where we stayed with Mike and Jule Clode (life members) who live on their son in laws farm just east of the town. Mike and Julie very kindly took us on a tour of the farm and showed us some of the amazing machinery used. A lovely evening was had around the campfire with Mike and Julie telling us of their motorcycle adventures around the globe.
Monday, we stopped to look at the pink lakes before we continued south to the Pingrup Silos with three themes of racing, sheep farming and the tractor from the main street of town depicted on them. Here we said goodbye to Glen and Sandra who sadly had to return to Perth for work. Next stop was the Newdegate Silo with the native wildlife theme. Lunch was at the island in the middle of the huge Lake King. Happening upon a collection of homemade tractors called the Bush Engineers Tractor Museum was unexpected and fascinating. Heading south we camped at near Mount Madden and where the CBH Wheat bins used to exist.
A sudden storm blew in and we all huddled under the camper until it blew over leaving a clear rest of the evening around the campfire.
Tuesday started with the Ravensthorpe Silo, the only ones painted on both sides, and these depicted the lifecycle of the banksia flower. Michael’s drone was a real bonus here as it allowed us to clearly see the far side images which were partially obscured from the road. Heading west we stopped in Ongerup for lunch and the wildflower display at the Museum, home of the giant shears. As we continued west the Stirling ranges silhouetted against the horizon, we stopped at Louis lookout just before Borden for a photo op. Michael left us here to return to Perth for work. We then drove through the Stirling Ranges and past the Porongurup’s to Mount Barker where we camped in the Caravan Park for two nights.
Wednesday, we headed on a day trip to Albany. The silo here depicts a sea horse which is inspired by two different species found in the area. Climbing Mount Clarence to visit the war memorial and take in the spectacular views of the King George Sound. We were lucky to meet an elderly gentleman at the memorial who told about helping unload the statue when it first arrived from Syria. Visiting a few of the artists on the Art Trail. Thomas was particularly taken with the photography and the unique way these were printed on stone and aluminium. After some essential shopping we explored the police station museum in Mount Barker. That evening we had a visit from a friendly possum.
Thursdays’ first stop was a walk around the tiny town of Tambellup to stretch our legs before driving on to Katanning. We walked around a few of the murals in town before heading out to the all ages playground and everyone enjoying a few of the slides, towers and swings. After having lunch in Kojonup at the giant wool cart we headed to Boyup Brook for ice cream. Camping for our final night round the campfire on the edge of Glen Mervyn Dam, a peaceful and idyllic spot.
The final day dawned with mist rolling across the dam. We packed up and headed to the Wellington Dam to view the dam wall mural. We took advantage of the newly opened walk across the top of the dam giving a different perspective of the mural paintings. Finishing the trip with lunch at the Pinjarra Bakery we reluctantly headed home already thinking of where our next adventure will be.
Andrew & Julia
