When the pace of city life gets too much, one of the best solutions is to pack your bag and head out to a country town. Plenty of fresh air, wide open spaces, friendly people, and the unique colours of the Australian countryside await, like a soothing balm to be applied to the soul. Many country towns have their own “claim to fame” that sets them apart from other destinations. One example of this is the silo art in Gunnedah.
Silo Art
There is a painted silo about 10 minutes walk from the Gunnedah train station, on Barber St. (Near the corner of Barber St & Warrabungle St). Unfortunately, the art faces away from the train line, so you won’t see it from the window of the train as you pass through Gunnedah. If you want to see the mural, you will need to visit the town. Which is the idea, after all!
The art on the silo pays tribute to one of Australia’s famous poets, Dorothea Mackellar. Experiences she gained when visiting her family’s farms in the Gunnedah region inspired her poetry. The second stanza of her well known poem ‘My Country’ is represented in her handwriting, next to the poet herself looking at the viewer.
Presented in a sepia-style, the mural evokes visions of 19th century life in rural Australia. This silo is one of several that have been painted by a Melbourne based artist known as Heesco.
Water Tower Art
In Anzac Park on South Street you will find another two murals painted on the water tower museum. This location is about 15 minutes walk from the train station, but in the opposite direction to the silo.
Artist Jenny McCracken painted these murals. They recognise those almost 60,000 Australian armed forces personnel who served in the Vietnam War. The first mural depicts a recreation of one of the most famous images of the war, which was captured by Michael Coleridge in 1967. Soldiers waiting to be air-lifted out by helicopters.
The second mural portrays a memorial dedication service by soldiers for their fallen comrades on the site of the Battle of Long Tan.
The water tower has been converted into a museum which displays a collection of documents and articles for the Gunnedah Historical Society. Opening hours are Saturday from 10am to 2 pm, and most Monday mornings between 9:30 – 11:30am.
Getting there
While I have mentioned that Gunnedah has a train station, it does need to be said that there are limited rail services. There is one service in each direction each day, using the North West Xplorer Train NSW. If you are planning to visit by train, you can use this trip planner page for timetable information
The train is quite comfortable with nice views along the way. It is a booked service so you need to buy a ticket for the journey.
Alternatively, if you’re on a road trip out that way, then it’s easy to plan to take a break in Gunnedah. There is plenty of space to park very close to both the mural sites. Take in the art while you stretch your legs.
Best time to visit
I took these photos in the afternoon. I think the light would have been better in the morning at both sites. Ultimately, it depends on when you arrive in Gunnedah!
Accommodation options in Gunnedah
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