Colbinabbin Art Silos
A wonderful set of five silos in a row with beautiful paintings by Tim Bowtell which depict the community's unique characteristic and values.
Some of the themes and subjects of the paintings are:
Colbinabbin Tractor Pull
In 1981 a group of local farmers met to plan Colbinabbin's first Tractor Pull for the following year. The prize money was an Australian record for Tractor Pulling and an anticipated crowd of 3000 swelled to over 22,000 with the recreation reserve and township being completely overrun with vehicles and spectators. Tractor Pulls were conducted in Colbinabbin for six years.
Colbinabbin Farmers Picnic (On the Hill)
This was a favourite event in the late 1800's to early 1900's. Originally organised by the German settlers, the Farmers' Picnic was initially held on the Mount Camel range in a 640 acre paddock and later at the Colbinabbin recreation reserve. As early as the 1880's large crowds of up to two thousand people attended each year with visitors arriving from Rushworth and beyond by steam train and then walking up the hill to the picnic. Activities included a publican's booth, many food stalls, merry go round, sideshows, games, horse racing, bicycle races, foot racing, obstacle races, hurdles and jumps, sack races and tug-of-war.
Train & Railway Station, wheat crop, Billy Buttons and Wedge Tail Eagle
In August 1881 a Colbinabbin Railway League, consisting of farmers, agitated for a railway line to enable the transportation of produce and livestock to Melbourne. In 1913 construction of the line was completed. It extended from Rushworth to Cornella Creek at Colbinabbin, and cost 42,970 pounds for the 12.5 miles of track. It took sixty men to build 1 mile of railway line per week. The line was then extended to the current site of the silos. At the end of the line a Clydesdale horse-powered turntable was installed to turn the engine around for the return journey.
The Colbinabbin West community realised that it would be impossible to run the train tracks up and over the hill to the town. So it was decided to establish the township in a more suitable location down on the plain, to be known as Colbinabbin East. By 1913, it was a bustling township and today the Colbinabbin district has a population of 304 people (ABS 2016).
The first trucks loaded with bags of grain left the station in February 1914. Stockyards were built west of the station so livestock could be transported to Melbourne markets by train. Often farmers would queue at the station with flocks of sheep in preparation for loading them. Large quantities of blocks of wood from McEvoy's timber mill and hundreds of eggs from Tom Tuohey's poultry farm were transported from Colbinabbin station, as were hay, straw, bales of wool and dairy products.
In the first year of the railway's operation, Colbinabbin district had a harvest of more than 75.000 bags of grain delivered to the station, with 50,000 bags being stored in the railway yard. Wheat stacks known as 'blocks' from the 1939-1940 harvest, were formed by placing 40 bags to form a rectangular base, then stacked 20 rows high to make approximately 800 bags of grain per block. This was repeated with up to 10 more blocks along the railway yards.
These wheat stacks/blocks were built beside the railway line for ease of loading into the train trucks. Because of the demand, the grain shed was constructed in 1934 with a capacity of 18,000 bags, while the barley stacks were still being used until the 1960s.
At the peak of the season, up to 70 farm trucks laden with bags of grain would line up over a weekend at the station, waiting for silos to open on a Monday morning. In later years, with bulk loading, dozens of trucks would line up along Station and Mitchell Streets each day in preparation for grain to be tested at the weighbridge and then unloaded.
The Colbinabbin East Railway Station consisted of an office, a waiting room, baggage and goods room, the platform and toilets. A twice-weekly passenger and goods train commenced in 1914. There was one carriage for passengers, one for goods, and grain bins followed. By 1947 only one passenger train ran each week, and eventually passenger services were withdrawn in August 1948. Goods trains continued t run weekly on Wednesdays until the mid-1980s. The last freight conveyed were barrels of beer for the Pub.
'Lulu' the Fire Truck & children walking to the recreation reserve (football, netball, cricket & tennis)
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) and sports have played and continue to play a major role in Colbinabbin. In 1947 the CFA started to build its own trucks, known as Small Town Units. The first tanker was based on an Austin Series 1 truck chassis and fitted with a 1300 litre water tank. The original Colbinabbin Fire Truck, LU 600, is part of the Fire Services Museum of Victoria vehicle collection.
Location
Colbinabbin is located in the heart of Victoria, a 2 hour drive north of Melbourne or within 1 hour to Bendigo, Shepparton and Echuca.
Facilities in the Town
Next to the car-park is a garden area with a picnic table and some shaded seats. Stop by the Colbinabbin General Store to pick up a coffee and bite to eat, or for a more hearty meal, head to the Colbinabbin Country Hotel. There are toilets about 100m away at the Colbinabbin Hall.
Artist Tim Bowtell Biography
Tim Bowtell always had a predefined path to the visual arts (even if he did not know it), always doing well in art subjects at school. He went on to be a graphic designer for more than twenty years and always liked to draw. He only began to paint in 2005 after a chance meeting with another local painter that kick-started his passion for painting.
Tim studied visual arts at TAFE Wangaratta, and in 2009 entered and won the Mansfield Three Faces Portrait Prize. In 2011 he embarked on his first solo exhibition, at Benalla Art Gallery selling most of his work. He has won numerous local art awards, and in 2016, was one of two local artists chosen to participate in the Benalla Wall to Wall Street Art Festival. He was invited back to paint in the 2017 and 2018 festivals. Tim has been in demand ever since, painting murals for VicRoads, Winton Wetlands, Strathbogie Community, Monbulk Historical Society, Weathercraft Wines, four huge murals on the St James silos, and has completed a Rochester laneway dedicated to renowned detective Ron lddles -'The Good Cop'.
Tim has also been actively involved in local community arts projects. He helped start North East Artisans Art Co-op where he is currently President and has his studio. He has taught art to dis-engaged youth and conducted painting workshops.
Tim likes his work to carry a strong message even when painting canvases, but realises his work gets to be seen by a much wider audience when creating art in public spaces rather than inside a gallery. Tim feels he has been given a gift and hopes he can use it to bring positive change to communities.
Website: http://www.timbowtell.com.au
Project Initiation
The Colbinabbin Silo Art idea was initiated by Sadie Vale. Sadie approached Vic Feeds owner Carolyn Meyer in April 2018 about having the silos painted and discussions with local identity Frank Stewart along with recent Country News articles supported the initiative. Information was sought from a Country News journalist about fund raising and grant applications, it all seemed a little hard, even though Vic Feeds, as owners, had agreed to the silo art. Then, at short notice. the Victorian Government Pick My Project funding grant application became available. With five days to spare Sadie made the application. The funding guidelines required a partnering organisation and Mary Ann Morgan. who had recently purchased the Colbinabbin Hotel became involved as the business partner. After an extensive voting process, the Pick My Project grant application was successful and in September 2018 a grant of $112,500 was received. The Colbinabbin Silo Art Project Team was formed and the first meeting held on 21st October 2018.
About the Project
The Colbinabbin Silo Art Project team would manage this exciting project and, as the project developed, so did the number of silos to be painted. This required further consultation with Vic Feeds Operations Ply Ltd, a privately owned stock feed manufacturing company. The project team and community were devastated when Alan Meyer died suddenly during the project in July 2019. Alan is remembered by being painted as the driver in the steam train theme.
Further resourcing of additional funds was necessary to ensure the expansion of the project. Grant Applications from the Rushworth & District Community Bank, Damien Drum MP, Stronger Communities Programme, Shire of Campaspe committee groups and community members were pivotal in increasing the scope of the project. These funding opportunities allowed extensive silo surface preparation, artist design & paint, clear coatings, tourist signage, interpretative boards and the commencement of the large viewing platform. Collaboration with The Colbinabbin & District Historical Society Inc. to lease adjacent land owned by Vic Track established a partnership. Further funding from Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) was welcomed, allowing expansion of the viewing area to become a beautiful recreational area for the enjoyment of the community and visitors. Fosterville Gold Mines kindly donated additional funding to complete protective coatings to the art design. The project team has committed to the ongoing development and governance of the precinct.
Engagement with St James Silo Art project led to the appointment of Artist Tim Bowtell. Extensive community consultation for theme ideas was undertaken, indicating a strong interest in telling the Colbinabbin story. The pleasure for the community was seeing the themes come to life.
The Silo Art themes are a pictorial lens of the community's unique characteristics and values. The themes commence with the Colbinabbin Annual Farmers Picnic that began in 1878 and continued for sixty years. No wonder we all still love to gather at Colbo!
The steam train arrived 1914 to support agriculture and to bring passengers to attend the farmers picnics. After arriving at the station, they would walk up the hill to enjoy the annual event. The original township was based at Colbinabbin West. However as the train could not make it up the hill, it was then decided to move the town to the current site.
The Country Fire Authority theme includes the first 1947 Austin Tanker fire truck "LU600" proudly sitting on the channel bank. This theme acknowledges the many volunteers who have served in the Colbinabbin district. The man-made Waranga Western Main channel is the lifeline of our township and farming community.
The young children walking across the bridge are making their way to the recreation reserve to participate in the local sporting activities.
The final theme depicts the famous Colbinabbin Tractor Pull that started in 1982. Project initiator Peter Hamilton is driving "Black Velvet", the only tractor in Australia with a jet turbine engine. The crowd for the first tractor pull was expected to be 3,000, however 22,000 people arrived, with the crowds becoming as big a story as the tractors.
Fortunately most of this project was completed prior to Covid Pandemic Lockdown 2020.
"Come to Colbo" Song
Julie Price created and sang this song at the official opening on 6th February 2022.
Come to Colbo, and see the silos!
It's a burst of colour in the town
And our history, all in pictures
Come to Colbo, you're welcome,
come on down!
The Farmer's Picnic in the fields
Where the whole town shared a meal
And danced right through the afternoon
And a real band played all the tunes.
There's our fire truck Lulu
Big, red, shiny and new
She served our town so well
Now she's in Melbourne for a spell.
What about the famous Tractor Pull
Colbo was bursting, it was full!
Thousands of people in the dust,
To see Black Velvet was a must
Look at that magnificent train!
Coming right at you with the grain
Billy buttons standing by its side
The silos are Colbinabbin's pride.....
Come to Colbo, and see the silos
It's a burst of colour in the town
And our history, it's all in pictures
Come to Colbo, you're welcome, come on down....
Our story....in beautiful pictures
Come to Colbo, we won't let you down
Access for Dogs:
Dogs are permitted on leash.
Location
Collin Street, Colbinabbin 3559 Map
Web Links
→ www.colbinabbinsiloarttrail.com.au
→ Colbinabbin Silo Art Trail on Facebook
→ Silo Art Locations in Victoria with Map
