More Silo Art For Harden-Murrumburrah

Renowned silo artist, Heesco will return to Harden Murrumburrah later this year thanks to a grant from the NSW State Government.

The grant, which was approved late last year, will be used to continue art on a Silo belonging to Robin Cooper and Greg Medway, making it the only Silo in NSW that is fully wrapped with art.

The project has been a work in progress over the past few months for Harden-Murrumburrah Arts Council, the Harden-Murrumburrah Historical Society, the silo owners and Heesco.

Arts Council President Keith Ward said they wanted to continue the theme of the current mural which depicts the significant impact that the Mill had on the twin towns and the farming of wheat, so it was used as inspiration.

Mr Ward said that the silo owners were very keen to feature musicians from the era.

“I’ve had a look at the silo art and I’ve yet to see musicians depicted,” he said.

“I think we’re potentially the first.

“The two musicians are indicative of the musicians of that era.”

The artist was also given a brief on the significance that gold played in the early era.

“I think Heesco has captured this wonderfully, combining pictures of our local landscape, gold fossicking and a depiction of campgrounds and the social life that would have been seen during the time,” Mr Ward said.

“Overall, we’re very happy.

“The logistics of painting the mural is going to be fun.”

Due to the high demand for Heesco’s artistic service, and the significant weather events that have already occurred this year, a date that locals will see colour on the reverse side of the mills is yet to be confirmed.

“We haven’t secured a formal date at this stage with Heesco,” Mr Ward said.

“He is currently completing a water silo up north and then we will have to review our calendars, but I can confirm it will be prior to the end of the year.”

Secretary/treasurer of the Harden-Murrumburrah Historical Society, Lorraine Brown said the mills played a significant role in the region’s drive tourism and she believed that it would only grow as the second side of the silo was completed.

“We get so many people coming to look at the Mill and Bill the Bastard, this project will only add to the attraction of the region,” Ms Brown said.

“We have had several bus tours over the past couple of months and I can only see this increasing once the second side is completed.”

The imagery to be used for the mural is 100 per cent Australian. In fact, the landscape is a composition of four photographs taken by Keith Ward locally.

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