Victorian Silos, Sunsets & River Ports

Day 1 - Sunday 21 March 2021

Melbourne - Ararat - Rupanyup - Murtoa - Horsham (L,D)

Welcome to Sisterhood Womens Travel.  Meet your Sisterhood Tour Hostess and fellow travellers opposite Southern Cross Station (Cnr Lonsdale and Spencer Street) in the morning.  Today we begin our journey through the Wimmera-Mallee’s Silo Art Trail, witnessing the amazing colours of the saltpans at Lake Tyrrell, history of the river ports of Mildura and Swan Hill and the silo art of Greater Shepparton. After pick up we make our way up to Ararat, stopping for morning tea and tour of J Ward. We learn the early history of the goldfield times and later, the incarceration of the criminally insane. Next is Wood’s Farming and Heritage Museum, located in Rupanyup. Here we enjoy a light lunch and a chance to browse through the extensive museum, featuring all things vintage. From farming machinery to sewing machines, matchboxes to matchbox cars plus one of the most assorted vintage biscuit tin collections, we enjoy a walk down memory lane. We also stop by the Rupanyup Silo, created by Russian street artist Julia Volchkova and dedicated to local netball and football players. We can’t leave Rupanyup without a visit to Rupanyup Living to taste the best home-made brownies in the area. The Murtoa Stick Shed is next to experience a talk and tour of one of the most unusual and interesting buildings in Australia. The Stick Shed was built in 1941 and stands at almost 20m high, 265m long and 60m wide. There are 560 poles within, and it can hold around 100,000 tons of wheat. After our tour we continue into Horsham for check-in before dinner in the motel restaurant. 

Overnight Horsham - Comfort Inn Capital (or similar)

Day 2 - Monday 22 March 2021

Silo Art Trail - Yurunga Homestead - Sea Lake (B,L,D)

Today after breakfast we continue along the Silo Art Trail arriving at Sheep Hills where artist Matt Adnate has created a monster 30m high x 40m wide piece of silo art dedicated to Aboriginal Wergaia Elder, Uncle Ron Marks, and Wotjobaluk Elder, Aunty Regina Hood, alongside two young children to celebrate the richness of the area’s Indigenous culture. Our next stop, Brim, has the first silo completed on the trail, the small farming town captured the world’s attention in January 2016 after Brisbane street artist Guido van Helten painted a giant mural on the town’s unused grain silos depicting an anonymous, multi-generational quartet of female and male farmers. From Brim we travel across to Rainbow for lunch and tour at the Yurunga Homestead. The railway came to Rainbow in 1898 and with it came prosperity to the town and surrounding area. Part of that prosperity was the establishment of Yurunga, a beautiful homestead built in 1909 to impress the people of Rainbow. Wander the gardens and get a strong sense of what it was like for the early owners in those pioneering days. Outside, the gardens and coach house tell their own story, and the site where the croquet green once stood reminds us of the social gatherings Yurunga was renowned for. After leaving the homestead we continue to Rosebery and view the silo artwork by Kaff-eine. Completed in late 2017, Kaff-eine’s artwork depicts themes that she says embody the region’s past, present and future. At Nullawil artist Sam Bates (Smug) worked his magic transforming the face of the silo showcasing a working Kelpie dog and his master, a farmer. A little further up the Calder Highway we arrive in Sea Lake where we check into our unique accommodation. Late afternoon we enjoy pre-dinner drinks and nibbles as we step inside the amazing Sky Mirror Gallery showcasing the images of Lake Tyrrell’s ever-changing colours. After dinner we are joined by our guide Julie as we head out to the Lake Tyrrell viewing platform to take in the spectacular colours of a Lake Tyrrell sunset which in November will be at approx 8.00pm. Those wishing to, are able to hop into their “Gum Boots”, which are supplied, and take a walk on the lake. On completion we travel back to our accommodation for a good night’s rest.

Overnight Sea Lake - Sea Lake Hotel (or similar)

Day 3 - Tuesday 23 March 2021

Sea Lake - Red Cliffs - Mildura (B,L,D)

For those wishing we will be returning to the lake Tyrrell to capture the colours of the sunrise over the lake before returning for breakfast. Following breakfast, we check out the Sea Lake town murals each with their own unique story followed by the new Sea Lake Silo Art which celebrates the still and silence found in outback Victoria, and the associated feelings of wholeness and freedom. It’s time to bid Julie and Sea Lake farewell as we travel up to the Murray River port of Mildura with two more Silo artworks en-route. The Lascelles Silo Mural by Melbourne-based artist Rone where he depicts farming couple Geoff and Merrilyn Horman, part of a family that has lived and farmed in the area for four generations. The unique Drover’s Hut Gallery also provides an interesting stop for a browse and cuppa before setting off up the road to the Patchewollock Silo artwork, completed in late 2016 by Brisbane artist, Fintan Magee. Fintan booked a room at the local pub to immerse himself in the community and get to know its people. When he met local sheep and grain farmer, Nick “Noodle” Hulland, Magee knew he had found his muse. From Patche we continue up along the Calder Highway to Ouyen for lunch at the Mallee Bakery. Our next stop will be in the soldier settlement of Red Cliffs, home of Big Lizzie, a tractor which cleared the land for the largest soldier settlement in Australia. We discover more of the settlement’s history and Big Lizzie at the Red Cliffs and District Historical Society. It’s then onto Mildura for check in and rest before dinner in the motel restaurant. 

Overnight Mildura - Best Western Chaffey Motor Inn (or similar)

Day 4 - Wednesday 24 March 2021

Wentworth - Mildura (B,L,D)

Today enjoy a highlight tour the historic river ports of Wentworth and Mildura. Wentworth was one of Australia’s busiest ports during the paddle-steamer era of the late 1800s and the great rivers of the Murray and Darling join as one here. The river township is considered the gateway to Outback New South Wales and is situated on the junction of the Murray and Darling Rivers. On our Mildura highlights tour we will discover the history of the Chaffey Trail and view the beautiful Mildura Riverfront, wharf, lock, weir, Old Mildura Homestead, Rio Vista and Mildura CBD. Following our discovery tours, we relax and enjoy a light lunch at Bobby and Me located in a delightful setting down on river-front lawns. We then travel across the river to Buronga to catch up with Mario and Maria at Orange World before enjoying a fun and intriguing tractor train tour through the citrus orchard. We gain a true understanding of the citrus industry and what it means to the local growers and also learn the process of picking, packing and marketing of the delicious fruits. The perfect way to finish a day’s touring is over a glass of wine at Mildura’s premier boutique winery and cellar door. At Trentham Estate sample their delicious wines then sit by the banks of the Murray River with a glass of wine and nibbles, a perfect way to prepare for our day’s grand finale. Tonight, we dine at Stefano’s Cantina located within the cellars of the iconic Grand Hotel. Our Italian style 5 course set menu using fresh ingredients in season to prepare simple, but flavoursome dishes, a thousand-year old, quintessentially Italian art.

Overnight Mildura - Best Western Chaffey Motor Inn (or similar)

Day 5 - Thursday 25 March 2021

Mildura - Swan Hill (B,L,D)

This morning after breakfast and check out we depart Mildura and begin our drive alongside the Murray River to the river port of Swan Hill. Along the way enjoy morning tea and look a through the historic Robinswood Homestead, which was the home of the Cuttle family, founders of Robinvale. Memorabilia of the Cuttle family, especially Robin Cuttle for whom the town is named are displayed, together with some documents and photographs of the town twinning with Villers-Bretonneux. On arrival into Swan Hill we join in the bustling lives of our pioneers at the Swan Hill Pioneer Settlement. We have the afternoon at leisure to purchase lunch, enjoy a cruise along the mighty Murray River on the historic PS Pyap and explore the many aspects of the Settlement. Later in the day we check into our accommodation to freshen up before an early dinner. We then return to the Pioneer Settlement to witness the spectacular laser lights show “The Heartbeat of the Murray”. This laser spectacular is the first of its type in Australia and depicts the history of the Murray River from before landform to present time. This amazing show is projected onto a 50” water screen in the river, involves pyrotechnics and also special effects that physically engage the audience. Following the show, we return to our accommodation for a good night’s rest.

Overnight Swan Hill - Comfort Inn Campbell (or similar)

Day 6 - Friday 26 March 2021

Swan Hill - Rochester - Shepparton (B,L,D)

Today we depart Swan Hill and begin our drive across to Shepparton travelling out through Lake Boga. The Flying Boat Museum was once an integral part of allied defence during World War II, with a facility that helped to keep Australia safe - the No.1 Flying Boat Repair and Service Depot. After an informative tour of the Flying Catalina Boat and Communications Bunker, we travel down to Barraport via Quambatook, home of the Australian Tractor Pull Championships. At Barraport we find the amazing Piccoli’s Spannerman Sculptures. This country garden is filled with larger than life sculptures, including an iconic shearer, a family of deer, a pair of fighting stallions, a Mallee bull, intricate garden seats and many more. These wonderful works of art are made entirely of antique and modern-day spanners welded together. Nearby is Simply Tomatoes where we enjoy lunch surrounded in the ambience of the beautiful 1880’s homestead gardens. Following lunch, we learn about the farm, the district and the progressive story of Simply Tomatoes, Aussie Wool Quilts and Woolly Warmers, giving us a window into the life of a farming family and hearing about the journey of their national award-winning products. This afternoon we head to Shepparton via the township of Rochester to view the silo mural that was completed during July 2018. The colourful detail by artist Jimmy Dvate of a Squirrel Glider and Azure Kingfisher on the Campaspe River is quite brilliant! Leaving Rochester, we continue across to Shepparton for check-in and dinner.

Overnight Shepparton: Quality Hotel Parklake (or similar)

Day 7 - Saturday 27 March 2021

Shepparton Silo Trail - Benalla - Melbourne (B,L)

After breakfast we make our way to the Chocolate Apple Factory, home of the famous chocolate and caramel coated apples, producers of fresh cherries, apples and pears and manufacturers of fruit liqueur, fruit wine, natural fruit juices, jams and pastes. Our visit will include a short talk on the business together with tastings. We then travel up to Dookie village, home to the Dookie Emporium, with antiques to vintage, funky sixties to seventies, clothing, furniture, militaria, art and more. They also stock fresh regional produce including cheese, preserves, nuts, eggs, fruit and vegetables, local wines and boutique beers. Our silo art trail continues in the small township of Tungamah where Broome based artist Sabrane has created a celebration of Australian native birds on the three silos. Our next township is St James where artist Timothy Bowtell has decorated the GrainCorp silos with a mural of Sir George Coles, the founder of Coles supermarkets who was a local to the St James township. In 1882 George Coles Snr married his wife Elizabeth and purchased his first store at the North Eastern St James. After lunch at the pub we move onto Devenish where the war-themed Silo Art depicts a World War I nurse and a modern-day army medic - the latest work of art on the third silo is that of a Lighthorse soldier and his horse, which was just unveiled on ANZAC weekend 2019 before a packed Anzac Day commemorative service. It's then down to Goorambat, as part of the 2018 Wall to Wall festival, Goorambat silos were painted by famed iconic Melbourne street artist Jimmy Dvate and depicts an endangered bird of prey from the area, 'Millibai' the Barking Owl. We step inside the Uniting Church to view the beautiful mural of "Sophia" the female aspect of the Holy Spirit. Then it's across to Benalla, home to regional Victoria’s stunning street art by various artists including Guido van Helten, Adnate, Rone, DVATE, Sirum, Kaff-eine and many more. Then it’s back on the road, enjoying a comfort stop in Seymour to view the Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk. Opened in 2013, the wall includes both the names of all Australian veterans who served in the Vietnam War and a photographic timeline. We arrive home late afternoon after a wonderful time touring the Silo Art Trail of Victoria and the Murray River Region.

Thank you for travellling with Sisterhood Womens Travel and we look forward to welcoming you to your next adventure.