Just 15 minutes’ drive from Swan Hill lies a town with a scintillating story to tell – and the community have published it loud and proud.
The town of Lake Boga, with a population of just under 1000 people, once played a vital role as a repair and service depot for flying boats during World War II.
The latest GrainCorp silo art project, led by local group Lake Boga Incorporated, has been completed after five years of planning how best to tell this story.
Painted by renowned local artist, Tim Bowtell, the mural reflects the town’s history, including the Catalina Flying Boat and its officer Georgie Urquhart “Scotty” Allan, who had a remarkable career as an aviator during WWII.
“What we’re most excited about is that the mural extenuates our identity and builds on what we’ve got here in Lake Boga,” says Steve Matthews, Chair of the group.
“We’re hopeful it will promote Lake Boga and encourage people to come and visit, have a look at the mural and experience what else we’ve got to offer.”
The mural also depicts the townships love for sporting activities, along with a large pelican showcasing the environmental values of the lake.
The project, completed with the support of Swan Hill Rural City Council, is the 18th mural to join GrainCorp’s silo art program.
“The GrainCorp silos at Lake Boga have been part of the community for decades and it’s terrific to see them take their next form – a mural that will be celebrated by locals and visitors for decades to come,” said Community Engagement Manager, Kyle Docherty.
“The amount of time and energy that’s been poured into this project by Lake Boga Incorporated, led by Chairperson Steve Matthews, has been tremendous and we’re excited to see how the artwork enhances their beloved town and lake.”
The Lake Boga mural rounds out the 2023 silo art program with Quirindi, Katamatite and Walpeup also joining the Australian Silo Art Trail this year.
Does your community want to join the Silo Art Trail?
The next round of applications for GrainCorp’s silo art program open on 1 February 2024. For further information, visit https://www.graincorp.com.au/silo-art/.
