Rutherglen Silo Art - Victoria

Painted in April 2025.

The Rutherglen Silo Art, titled "Birds of Seasons" celebrates the local fauna that subtly guides the rhythm of life in the region. These small, beautiful birds have historically played a vital role in signalling the changing seasons to First Nations peoples and farmers alike and are a significant part of the region's ecology. Each silo in the series represents a specific season, with a bird chosen for its distinct colour palette, reflecting the essence of that time of year. Within the forms of these birds, intricate details reveal seasonal crops, golden veins and specific markings inspired by historic gold maps, and unique land patterns informed by stories from the local community.

Silo art descriptions

TANK ONE – Season: Spring | Bird: Pink Robin | Flower: Flannel Flower
The Pink Robin, with its vibrant pink belly, signals the arrival of spring and renewal. A line motif within its belly echoes the season’s wheat harvest, while delicate line work around it captures nature’s fluid, changing rhythms. Beneath, golden lines evoke gold rush-era maps, nodding to the region’s rich history. The Flannel Flower, blooming in spring, symbolises resilience and rare beauty—its fragile appearance hiding powerful medicinal qualities and the quiet strength of the season.

TANK TWO – Season: Summer | Bird: Yellow-tufted Honeyeater | Flower: Red River Gum
The Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, with its golden plumage, captures summer’s vibrant energy. A subtle grape motif in its belly honours Rutherglen’s harvest, with a hidden wine glass inviting reflection. Flowing linework mirrors the land’s rhythms and windrows, while scattered orange dots echo old gold rush maps. Above, the sun blazes high, bathing the scene in golden light. The Red River Gum, blooming in summer, stands as a symbol of strength and connection—rooted in the land and local Indigenous knowledge.

TANK THREE – Season: Autumn | Bird: Red-capped Robin | Flower: Billy Buttons
The Red-capped Robin, with its vivid reds and oranges, signals autumn’s arrival—cool mornings, golden light, and shifting landscapes. Linework within its belly reflects drifting leaves, soft rains, and seeding windrows, capturing the season’s quiet transformation. Below, gold-like veins evoke historic rush maps, tying the land to its past. The sun rests lower, warming the earth with a softer glow. Billy Buttons, bright and round, hint at summer’s memory and the ever-turning rhythm of the seasons.

TANK FOUR – Season: Winter | Bird: Eastern Spinebill Honeyeater | Flower: Common Heath
The Eastern Spinebill, in earthy browns, reflects winter’s quiet strength—bare trees, rich soil, and lingering warmth. Intricate linework in its belly shows drifting leaves, a glowing homestead, and winter rains shaping the land. Golden veins and orange dots recall gold rush-era maps, connecting history to place. The sun hangs low, casting long shadows. The Common Heath, Victoria’s floral emblem, blooms with soft pink resilience, bringing gentle colour and hope to the coldest season.

Information Source: Ronan Holdsworth