Hindmarsh Shire Council has announced that the Arkona Silo north of Dimboola will become the second silo in the shire to act as a canvas, joining the region’s broader Silo Art Trail.

The State Government in December last year announced $4.9 million to implement the first round of priority projects identified in a silo art extension project report developed for Regional Councils Victoria.

$120,000 was allocated for a silo artwork at either Arkona or Dimboola.

The Silo Art Trail Stage 2 Strategy and Silo art extension project – Priority investments overview originally named Dimboola as the next priority site, having received in principle support for the Dimboola silos from the owners in 2018.

Hindmarsh Shire Council has since been informed by the owners of the Dimboola silos that they would not grant permission for silo art at Dimboola due to the site currently in the process of being sold. Council had previously engaged in discussions with the owner of the Arkona silo as a potential Silo Art Trail site. As the Dimboola silos are not available, further discussions were held and an agreement for the use of Arkona has been obtained.

Hindmarsh Shire Council have identified a number of positives for the Arkona site, including greater potential for encouraging tourism links with other locations throughout the shire, including Jeparit further north along the Dimboola-Rainbow Road.

Issues around parking and public access to the Dimboola site were also identified given the silo’s location within a residential area.

Arkona will form a link in a touring route from the northern end of the Yarriambiack shire area across to Kaniva and Goroke in the West Wimmera, via Albacutya north of Rainbow.

Hindmarsh Shire Council Mayor, Cr Ron Ismay, said that Council is excited to see the continuation of the Silo Art Trail throughout Hindmarsh.

“The Arkona site will solidify the touring link from Rainbow through Jeparit to Dimboola and will bring significant visitation to those towns and through to Nhill.

“The Silo Art Trail continues to be an iconic attraction to our region and has demonstrated significant economic benefits to regional communities.”

The first silo artwork in the Hindmarsh Shire, at Albacutya north of Rainbow, was completed in May this year and is pictured below.