We took a day trip from the Southern Highlands out to see the Silo Art in Grenfell. These impressive silos were painted by Melbourne street artist Heesco in 2019. It was an ambitious 7-ish hours of round-trip driving time, stopping in at a few country towns along the way to see what we could see.
Crookwell
We set out early, with the plan to stop in at Crookwell for breakfast. However, nearly all the shops and cafes were closed because it was a public holiday. This made it difficult.
We did find the cleanest public toilet I have ever seen, and a picture of a llama painted on a wall.(Not sure of the significance of the llama, hopefully one of my readers will enlighten us)
The one place we found that was open, was not able (or perhaps not willing) to help me out with any food that was gluten-free.
Always optimistic, we just set off for the next town on our list. ( I had an apple and a gluten-free snack bar with me, just in case. I wasn’t going to starve….)
Boorowa
This was my first time visiting Boorowa, and it was a delight. From the high stone gutters to the wide country streets with 45 degree angle parking, and the corner hotel with wrought iron lace balustrade balconies, it was everything you expect from a country town. There were quite a few people out and about enjoying breakfasts and coffees in the town.
I was interested to see a shamrock trail on the streets and I found out later that Boorowa’s Irish connection dates back to the 1820’s.
The story goes that two cousins Roger Corcoran and Ned Ryan had participated in the destruction of property in Clonoulty in Tipperary as a rebellion against English troops. Consequently, they had been sentenced to transportation, to New South Wales. Later they were granted a ‘Ticket of Freedom’, arriving in and contributing significantly to the settlement and growth of the area.
Finally – some breakfast!
The Superb Café was a delight to eat breakfast in. Nothing was too much trouble for them. I asked if I could have my bacon & egg roll on a plate instead of a roll. Yes that was no problem, they even asked me how I would like my eggs done. ( Plus there were two eggs with the bacon, which I wasn’t expecting.) Great customer service. The coffee was wonderful, and I left determined to visit the town again and have breakfast at their café next time I was there.
The Superb Bakery two doors up the street from the café was a bustling hive of activity. Delicious aromas of freshly baked goods and coffee wafted out into the street, drawing us in for a closer look. I did find some murals on the walls in the seating areas, but none of the tempting treats on offer were of the gluten-free variety.
We took the opportunity to stretch our legs and walk around the town a little bit. There’s an information centre that sells arts and crafts, and tea and coffee. Outside in the garden there are some panels telling the story of the railway that used to serve the area. There is an historic church as well as some older buildings waiting for you to admire their architecture.
I noticed an inviting park as we drove in to the town and on our way back out we stopped to investigate this a little bit more. There is a large shaded play area for the kids, and skateboard section for the brave and fearless. It looks like a nice place to spend a weekend.
Silo Art in Grenfell
It was time to get back on the road so we set off again and found our way to the Silo Art in Grenfell, alongside the disused railway line. We arrived around midday. The light probably would have been better earlier in the morning, but the mural is impressive to behold regardless of the lighting.
The Grenfell Railway Station precinct incorporates the grain silos which were painted by the street artist Heesco in 2019. Grenfell Commodities purchased the silos and commissioned the mural which depicts a compilation of images representing the farming industry and landscapes of the Weddin Shire, NSW.
It took Heesco five weeks, 180 litres of bulk paint, and 800 spray cans to paint the mural. During this time he stayed in Grenfell. The skyscape incorporates the original sepia colour of the silos, overlaid with white clouds.
When you see the mural in a photograph, you really don’t get an idea of the size of it at all. You become immersed in the picture as you stand in front of it. For an idea of the scale of the work, here’s a photo of me standing in front of it!
Grenfell Railway Station
The heritage listed Grenfell Railway station was built in 1901. Although it is now closed, it is unique in that it is the only A6 style “Pioneer” station remaining at its original location in NSW.
A new rail line between Koorawatha and Grenfell opened in 1901, with Grenfell station precinct being the terminus. The main function of the line was to transport grain and wool into the Sydney markets and Darling Harbour area.
Back in 1901, it was the custom to provide the ladies with a separate waiting area to the gentleman’s utilities.
Grenfell is an RV friendly town, and one of the parking areas for the RV’s is at the old Railway Station.
Grenfell town renovations
The main town of Grenfell is only a short distance from the Silos and Railway Station.
It was interesting to see that the main street of the town was undergoing some renovation work. I hope that the Murals have been able to serve their purpose of generating revenue in the country town!
It will be great to see the finished product next time around!
Young
Known as the Cherry Capital of Australia, Young hosts a National Cherry Festival every year in December. Unfortunately, our drive out to see the Silo Art in Grenfell did not coincide with the National Cherry Festival, so there were no cherries for me this time. (That event is on my list of country town festivals to get to, so stay tuned for that one! )
Public Holidays in Young are taken seriously. Not even the supermarket was open.
The only place we found open in young was the service station, and the McDonald’s! I was thankful that McDonald’s have salads on their menu now, to tide me over. (Where there’s a gluten-free will, there’s a way! )
Chinese Tribute Garden in Young
I had read about the Chinese Tribute Gardens in Young, so we went to give the gardens a visit on our way out of Young. These gardens were developed in recognition of the Chinese community to the settlement of Young during the goldrush days of the 1860’s and onwards.
There were quite a few families enjoying picnics in the grounds around the Chinese Tribute Gardens. Beautifully presented in a classic Chinese style, the gardens themselves are not vast. So it doesn’t take long to walk around the perimeter.
Allow about half an hour out of your day to stroll around the gardens and absorb the tranquillity.
The drive home
With the light fading for the day, we turned our car homewards and enjoyed the wide open spaces of the NSW countryside. At that time of the day, the chances of seeing some kangaroos is high. We were thankful that they were staying in the paddock and not jumping into the road in front of our car!
Next time I head out for a country drive, I will make sure that it is not a public holiday. That way we will be able to see more of what each unique town has to offer. It was great to see the silo art in Grenfell though, and fun to be out on the road going somewhere again after all the Covid lockdowns.
Where will your next road trip take you?
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- Silo Art in Gunnedah
- North West Xplorer Train NSW
- Silo Art in Wilton
- Street Art in Melbourne
- Exeter, CA – Outdoor Art Gallery
- Street Art in Devonport NZ
- Street Art in Western Australia
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