Bowtell’s latest mural adds to Devenish and north-east art trails

By Simon Ruppert

Feb 23, 2023

Visitors to the north-east art trail, which attracts tens of thousands of people each year, have a new attraction to see in Devenish.

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Benalla’s Tim Bowtell has been commissioned by the town’s silo art committee to create a mural on old stables attached to the Railway Hotel.

Those stopping to view the town’s impressive silo art will be able to walk down the side of the pub and find even more to see, before popping inside to enjoy a tasty counter meal.

Mr Bowtell said he was initially contacted by Kevin Mitchell from the Devenish Silo Art Committee to create the mural in advance of the town’s Anzac Day event.

“They had some funds and wanted to do another mural,” Mr Bowtell said.

“I spoke to Stu and Caz who own the pub (and members of the community). They knew exactly what they wanted.

“The idea was to feature the town’s former train station and the old steam train that used to come through here.

Impressive: Tim Bowtell' new mural in Devenish highlights the town’s historic links to the railway. Photo by Simon Ruppert

“And we’re trying to tie it into the silos, bringing in some of the World War I nurses and things like that.”

The canvas for the mural, the old stable, is part of the pub.

“It’s a great old building,” Mr Bowtell said.

“I’ve tried to leave some of the brickwork around the outside to keep its history, (rather than) blasting a colourful picture right over the whole wall.”

He is about halfway through completing the project.

“It will be maybe another four or five days to finish. Devenish have their Anzac Day event coming up and they wanted to have this done by then.”

And before setting off to begin his next silo projects in Cressy and Katamatite, which he aims to begin in March, he is also painting a mural on the Devenish public toilet block.

“We’re going to put a little mural on there too, as soon as I’ve finished this.

“That will also be done in time for the Anzac event.”