Following our bush camp stopover, we continued our journey through the Mallee region, eventually arriving in Walpeup, Victoria. The landscape here is as vast and unassuming as anywhere else we've seen. That is, until you come across the GrainCorp silos.
The silos themselves are impressive in scale, and they have been transformed into a striking canvas by artists Julian Clavijo and Camilo Delgardo. This artwork depicts the story of World War One Light Horseman Harold Thomas Bell. The rendering is particularly impactful, using vivid colours to portray a local hero and the spirit of the region. The silos tell a story of remembrance and pay homage to the sacrifices made by those from this community.
We spent a considerable amount of time examining the details of the murals, and thinking about the story and history embedded in the Walpeup landscape.
You can read the sign yourself and learn a bit about the story of Light Horseman Harold Thomas Bell.
While the Walpeup Silo Art is the main attraction in town, it is very representative of the wider story of the Wimmera and Mallee: resilient and determined. We are reminded of our own parents who lived through this time.
