Rochester Silo Art
Jimmy D'Vate, who is one of Australia's most well known mural artists was chosen to paint the GrainCorp Silos at Rochester. He endeavours, where possible to feature local endemically threatened species. In the first two silos painted, which were completed in July 2018, he chose the Azure King Fisher and the Squirrel Glider.
On the tall silo is a Squirrel Glider (Petaurus norfolcencis) clinging to a Red River Gum branch which has a home range extending from Bordertown near the South Australian/Victorian border through south eastern Australia to northern Queensland.
The endangered Squirrel Glider is the largest of three gliders that inhabit this region of Northern Victoria. The others are the Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps) and the Feathertail Glider (Acrobates pygmaeus). Squirrel Gliders use their big fluffy prehensile tails as a rudder and can glide up to 50+ metres between trees. Active at night, these agile climbers forage for insects and bugs in the upper and lower forest canopy.
On the shorter silo is the Azure Kingfisher with its combination of royal blue plumage on its upperparts contrasting with its orange underparts, makes it one of the smallest and most dazzling kingfishers in Australia. The Azure Kingfisher with his radiant blue head and body is the brightest coloured of all four kingfishers found in northern Victoria. It inhabits the vegetation beside waterways and other wetlands and is related to the Kookaburra family. It is pictured perched on a branch alongside the Campaspe River.
A third silo was painted in December 2021 which features the endemically threatened species, the large Duck-Billed Platypus. The Duck-Billed Platypus is often just referred to as the platypus since it is the only living platypus species today in Australia.
Located in certain parts of Australia only, platypus numbers are drastically low and this unique creature is now at risk of extinction. The platypus is one of Australia's strangest and most iconic animals - with a rubbery duck bill, webbed feet, fur, pectoral girdles and splayed legs resembling the skeleton of a reptiles. They have waterproof fur, skin that covers their ears and eyes, and noses that seal shut to protect the them while they are underwater. Though platypuses are made for the water, they can't stay completely submerged.
While platypus are most active at night feeding may occur during the day and some individuals may be quietly active during daylight hours.
Location
18 Ramsay Street, Rochester 3561 Map
Web Links
→ Rochester Silos on Facebook
→ Rochester Mural Festival on Facebook
→ Ron Iddles Mural
→ Rochester Mural Park
→ Silo Art Locations in Victoria with Map
