Waaia Silo Art

The Waaia Community Planning Group was formed in 2019. Meetings were held and goals were set.

Community Garden, Waaia Town Water Picnic Ground was to become our Anzac Memorial Picnic Ground and of course the painting of the silo. This took the longest time, trying to raise enough money was the hard part. We applied for so many grants only to be knocked back because it was privately owned.

Finally after 5 long years with the help of Phillipa Slinger from the Moira Shire who suggested we apply for the Tiny Towns Strengthening Grant. First round failed but second round came through for us. Many thanks to the Minister for her support. We are very grateful to Rex James Stockfeed for allowing us to have this artwork done and also for providing us with an area that we could establish as a car park and viewing area. Rex, Janet, Nick and Tasha have been so helpful all the way through and our little community is forever in their debt.

Tim Bowtell, our artist, has been, and is, fantastic. He has captured our past, the Soldier Settlement, and beforehand.

It pictures the old Beetle Train the used to run (a light passenger train), the bags of wheat with past local legend Bill Martin who was the only man who could carry two bags, one on each shoulder (which is equivalent to approx. 164 kilos!). Lots of attention to detail was given in the design, with the walk through dairy and water wheel signifying when these came to the area. It also features a crow which is the aborignal meaning of the word Waaia.

Tim has brought it all to life for all future generations to see. We are hoping it will be a tourist attraction for many years to come.

Once we are established on the Silo Trail, we hope our little community can become well known as we help to join the east to the west in our regional area.

Corrections to Waaia Silo Art Story

A couple of corrections were brought to the Red Gum Courier’s attention regarding the Waaia Silo Art story in the last edition on the 31st of October.

As was mentioned, Bill Martin was an extremely strong man, and it was well known that he could carry two bags of wheat at once. A bushel bag of wheat in Australia is generally around 60 pounds (approximately 27.2 kg), but the term "bushel bag" in this case refers to historical farm bags that were standardised at 3 bushels, or about 180 pounds (82 kg). So, in fact he was carrying a total of 164 kg with the two bags on his back!

Also, the beetle train pictured was a light passenger train, and wasn’t the one used to cart away the wheat.