PUSH TO REVAMP SILOS

Geelong’s Mercer St eyesore should be converted to giant artworks paying tribute to the city’s heroes, says local truckie

WITH grain silos across Victoria’s wheat belt being splashed with sky-high murals, a Geelong trucker has floated the idea of beautifying our own gateway eyesore.

And what better way to do so than to use the city’s most famous faces, he suggested.

Truck driver Kirk Delladio (pictured) said the six Geelong silos, sandwiched between Mercer St and La Trobe Tce at Geelong’s gateway, were an eyesore in need of a facelift.

“When you come into Geelong from Melbourne ... as you come up over La Trobe Tce it’s a bit of an eyesore, and I just thought maybe some of this country art could brighten it up a bit,” Mr Delladio said.

“I just thought something that would highlight the town a bit, I suggested footy players, a bit of blue and white on there would look pretty good.

“The sort of people who’ve had an influence on the town.”

The novel suggestion comes as grain silos across the state have been transformed into huge artworks celebrating local farmers and traditional landowners.

Earlier this year Curlewisborn street artist Tyrone ‘Rone’ Wright painted a 30m high silo in Lascelles in the Mallee, featuring fourth-generation farm- ers Geoff and Merrilyn Horman. The silo was the fifth of six being painted on a 200km outdoor art trail.

Geelong’s silos are currently owned by Lorne-based Melbourne real estate agent Jack Slater, who snapped up the eyesore landmark for just $365,000 at a mortgagee auction last year.

Mr Slater has previously announced plans to convert the silos — including the five story building next door — into 42 studio apartments suitable for student accommodation or affordable housing alternatives.

Stage one of the project was also tipped to include a revamp of signage on top of the actual silos, with a digital clock and temperature gauge, and ‘Welcome to Geelong’ advertisement. The Geelong Advertiser was unable to contact Mr Slater this week.

In 1998 there were unsuccessful plans to have the silos painted to resemble a six pack of Tooheys beer. The silos were built in 1938.

What the silos could look like adorned with Chrissy Amphlett, Polly Farmer and Frank Costa.

Main picture: CHRIS FARRELL MAIN: The Kimba silos artwork lit up a night. INSET ABOVE LEFT: The mural on the Sheep Hills silos was painted by Adnate, an internationally renowned artist famous for his work with Aboriginal communities. INSET ABOVE RIGHT: The silos at Brim.