Melbourne artist Jimmy Dvate was preparing to complete the final piece in a trio of silo artworks at the rural town of Rochester when the Campaspe River overflowed and ravaged the small community.
Now, two years later he is back in his cherry picker towering over the central Victorian town as he finishes the striking artwork at the former industrial site. Last week, he had almost completed the painting that depicts a New Holland honeyeater. It stands alongside a squirrel glider and kingfisher he painted in 2018, followed by the platypus he finished in 2021.
Artist Jimmy Dvate at work in Rochester. Credit: Justin McManus
The artist has built a reputation for painting native species on huge silos. But he said Rochester was among his favourite silo art destinations in Victoria.
“It’s definitely the most stopped at, especially in Victoria,” he said. “You can’t miss it. It’s not hidden away. It’s right in the public view.”
On Thursday last week, the Dvate chatted with a stream of locals and curious passers-by who stopped to admire the enormity of the project. Dvate said he had waited to finish the work because he wanted to give the town some time to recover, although many people have still not returned to their homes. Some are still living in caravans.
Dvate’s New Holland honeyeater is the third instalment in his Rochester silo art triology. Credit: Justin McManus
In the 2022 floods, Rochester was among the hardest-hit towns. About 1000 private houses out of 1520 were flooded above floor level.
“Now all the shops are back up and running, so it’s a good time for us to do this and try to add a bit more life and bring people back to Rochester,” Dvate said. “It’s such a resilient town. People are so supportive, and it’s got that real community vibe.”
The final artwork is based on a photograph shot by local photographer Bruce Povey in his back garden. Povey’s house was flooded with 60 centimetres of water inside, and he moved back only about five months ago. He said Dvate’s artwork was helping to lift the community’s spirits.
Dvate’s artwork has helped bring tourists to the town. Credit: Justin McManus
Povey said watching Dvate work using his cherry picker at the silo had become a tourist attraction in its own right.
“It really is a morale booster for the town,” he said.
Povey said he was proud to see his photograph spread across the huge silo surface and was looking forward to his triplet grandchildren visiting from Bendigo to see the work. He said they had seen images online of the project and had taken to calling it “Poppy’s photo in the sky”.
The Rochester Business Network sourced government funding for the artwork, and townspeople maintain the area around the silos.
A bird’s-eye view of the artwork. Credit: Justin McManus
Rochester Business Network silo art subcommittee member Kate Taylor said everyone in the community had played a part in the silo art project. “And they get to enjoy it every day,” she said.
The Rochester community initiated the project at the GrainCorp site to give the town an economic boost after dairy company Saputo shut down its factory in the town in 2018. Silo artworks have become tourism drawcards for rural towns across Victoria.
Taylor said Rochester had forged a relationship with Dvate through his work. “His willingness to understand the local environment, to find the right options to put on the silos and his relationships within Rochester are special.”
Dvate expects the work to be complete this week. Credit: Justin McManus
Rochester resident Trent Riordan voluntarily mows the grass in front of the silos, helping to maintain the area so that nothing detracts from the artwork.
“When it’s nice and tidy and as you would expect, then nothing seems out of place,” he said. “It’s a sense of pride. It’s our town. We want it to present well, so people can come through and be amazed at how good the artwork is and how well the grounds are kept.”
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