A special Australian native animal features in Rochester’s final silo artwork

THE third silo in Rochester’s silo art program is now complete.

The small town of Rochester in Victoria has announced that International artist D’vate has completed the third silo, a platypus.

The platypus is one of the most unusual and interesting animals in the world which can be found at various locations along the Campaspe River at Rochester in northern Victoria.

D’vate was the artist who in 2018 turned unused GrainCorp silos into a tourist attraction in the middle of Rochester on the Northern Highway.

Rochester is 25 minutes south of Echuca and 45 minutes north of Bendigo.

“The platypus is looking at you! It is truly amazing,” Kate Taylor, local Rochester resident, said of the artwork.

GrainCorp is a major supporter of this initiative.

“GrainCorp is proud to work with communities to grow the Australian Silo Art Trail, and the mural at Rochester brings a lot of joy to locals and tourists alike,” Jess Simons, manager, corporate affairs, GrainCorp said.

“We are very excited to see so many community members from all across Australia visit this wonderful piece of artwork as they travel the country throughout the summer months,” Jess said.

“The platypus is such a special Australian animal.”

This Murray–Darling Basin Economic Development Program project received funding from the Australian Government, with the local community raising the remainder of the funds.

In January this year, the Victorian Government announced it was taking urgent action to protect the platypus with the global icon now officially a threatened species and listed as vulnerable in Victoria.

The new artwork at Rochester serves to highlight the much-loved Australian species.