Mallee town joins art trail
Ayoung leader’s strategy to put his home town on the tourist map is coming to fruition as the small southern Mallee town of Woomelang joins Victoria’s silo art trail.
Joe Collins, the 21-year-old vicepresident of Woomelang and District Development Association, hopes a mural project will raise awareness about native Mallee endangered species, and attract tourists.
Melbourne and Adelaide-based artists are painting eight endangered animals, all native species to the Mallee, on portable field bins in a rendition of the iconic silo art trail, at Woomelang.
Mr Collins said he wanted to find an alternative way to get his town of less than 200 people on the trail after discovering Woomelang’s silos were privately owned.
He said the artwork would give travellers more of a reason to stop and check out the small town in Yarriambiack Shire.
“It’s a huge drawcard for domestic and international tourism, when they return,” he said.
“Having that little bit of art is enough of a reason for a caravaner or traveller to call past the town to have a look.
“A bit like the animals that we’re painting, if small towns don’t get attention, they’re endangered species too – we slowly see them fading away.”
In getting the project off the ground, Mr Collins approached the street art network behind the silo art phenomenon, Juddy Roller.
The network put him in contact with Melbourne artist ‘Sirum’, Andrew Bourke, who painted a ‘Mallee python’ on a wall in the community in 2016.
But Mr Collins and Bourke received pushback from Woomelang residents who questioned the mural’s relevance – which ultimately inspired an idea to link the mural into a larger concept.
The pair attracted seven more artists to take part and teamed up with Mallee Catchment Management Authority to identify eight native endangered Mallee animals to be painted on the field bins.
“We wanted to make it like a series, that’s how the idea of the endangered species of the Mallee come about. We needed to make it bigger and better,” Mr Collins said.
Mr Collins, a fourth generation Woomelang farmer, said it was ‘crucial’ to help generate more interest in the remote town that had lost its football and netball club and its primary school in recent years.
“It’s just home – my passion comes from the generations before me that have taught me everything I know,” he said.
“Our community has been through some pretty tough times. We still keep the town alive and keep things developing and make sure the things we do are well-maintained and cared for.
“I definitely think that community spirit and tenacity to keep going is a massive thing that echoes through Woomelang.”
Yarriambiack Shire Council is funding the project through a round of the Federal Government’s drought grant money.
Mayor Graeme Massey said the project was an effective way to link Woomelang into the Wimmera and southern Mallee tourist trail.
“This is another feature we can put on the attractions we can offer in this part of Victoria,” he said.
“This will give people a reason to come to Woomelang. By doing that you’re stimulating interest in the town’s history.
“Joe is so passionate about his town and what he’s doing. He’s a tremendous ambassador for us and gives a lot of recognition to our shire.”
A Mallee emu wren, western whipbird, Malleefowl, lined earless dragon, heath monitor, pygmy possum, spotted-tailed quoll and a rosenberg parrot will feature in the project.