12-14 May: The Grainlander Steam to Sea Lake and the Mallee Silo Art Trail
- Matt Lucas
- Mar 7, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: May 15, 2023
Journey aboard the Grainlander to explore the spectacular Mallee region of Victoria. Be amazed by the once derelict silos that have been transformed into giant canvasses hosting spectacular art works along the Silo Art Trail. Gaze at the pink salt crusted inland sea of Lake Tyrrell. Tour the gold rush town of Dunolly where the largest gold nugget in Victorian history was uncovered. Enjoy slow rail travel behind steam locomotive R707 to Sea Lake and back to Melbourne. Dine in some of the best pubs and enjoy the best gastronomic experiences in the region. Don't miss this spectacular weekend Slow Rail Journey to one of Victoria's most famous attractions hauled by steam locomotive R707.
Fares range from $850-$1,295 per person
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highlights
Step back in time onboard The Grainlander to enjoy a weekend of slow rail travel to some of the Victorian Mallee country's most beautiful townships and famous attractions.
itinerary
Entering Melbourne's busy Southern Cross Station you will immediately realise you are embarking on a journey like no other. One of your tour hosts for the weekend will greet you and usher you onto our departure platform as masses of commuters make their way to trains bound for Ballarat, Geelong, Bendigo and more. Pulling into the platform shortly after is the imposing string of 1950's and 1960's carriages that make up the Grainlander that perfectly juxtapose the modernity and hustle surrounding. From the moment you board you'll immediately relax and enter the elegance of a bygone era.
A 8:15 pm The Grainlander will wake up the station as the whistle is sounded announcing our departure. Join your fellow travellers and tour organisers in one of two luxury Club Carriages with a welcome aboard drink and evening supper as we head south to Geelong then along the freight only line to Ballarat where we will stop to resupply the train.
In Ballarat steam locomotive R707, the "city of Melbourne" will be coupled to the train to pull us north into the Mallee. R707, which ran to Ballarat earlier in the day for provisioning was built in Glasgow in 1951 and was restored by the Seven-O-Seven Operations volunteers.
We depart into the night under steam passing Maryborough and crossing the Redwood forests of the Victorian Goldfields.
Awake to the sun rising over a different world. The flat wheat fields of the Mallee have replaced the urban landscapes of Melbourne. Welcome to the Mallee!
At 7:00am the Grainlander will pull into Wycheproof - one of the major centres of the Mallee region, and home to the first off-train experience of our journey. In Wycheproof board a coach for a short informative tour of the town visiting Broadway, where the Grainlander will soon run down the middle of the Main Street, the summit of Mt. Wycheproof and other regional attractions.
Back onboard the train a fully cooked breakfast is served as R707 steams up the Main Street of Wycheproof and north further into the Mallee.
Approximately 40 minutes after departing Wycheproof the Grainlander will stop in the small hamlet of Nullawil for the second off-train experience of the weekend. Looming over the siding in Nullawil is artist Sam Bates aka Smug's work depicting kelpie sheep dog Jimmy who often makes a cameo appearance.
Continuing north take in the Mallee scenery over a barista made coffee in one of our two lounge cars or in the comfort and privacy of your sleeping accommodation as the Grainlander steams across the Mallee plains to Sea Lake - the end of the line!
Once home to the Mallee Rally and a substantial salt mining operation, the town today is reinventing itself as the gateway to Lake Tyrrell and as one of the main gateways to the famous Mallee Silo Art Trail.
After our arrival in Sea Lake board coaches for the afternoon's off-train experience, and the highlight of the trip for many visiting Lake Tyrrell and the famous Mallee Silo Art Trail.
Our first stop is the famous Lake Tyrrell. Lake Tyrell is an inland sea in the heart of the dry Mallee country. This shallow, salt-crusted depression just a few kilometres North of the township of Sea Lake has recently become a tourist mecca with photographers and social media users visiting to take photographs of the lake's mirror-like surface during winter. During dry periods, visitors can walk out onto the lake area by using places where salt has formed a solid surface.
Returning to Sea Lake visit the spectacular celebration of the still and silence found in outback Victoria depicted on the town’s silo before continuing to lunch in Woomelang where local publicans Graham and Lisa put on an impressive spread.
After lunch a short drive takes us to Lascelles where renowned Melbourne Street Artist “Rone” has painted the images of a local couple Geoff and Merrilyn Horman on the town's silo.
Our next stop will be in Rosebery where Melbourne artist Kaff-eine, after spending some time in the region, has depicted themes that she says embody the region’s past, present and future. The silo on the left captures the grit, tenacity and character of the region’s young female farmers, who regularly face drought, fires and other hardships living and working in the Mallee. In her work shirt, jeans and turned-down cowboy boots, the strong young female sheep farmer symbolises the future.
The silo on the right portrays a quiet moment between dear friends. The contemporary horseman appears in Akubra hat, Bogs boots and oilskin vest – common attire for Mallee farmers. Both man and horse are relaxed and facing downward, indicating their mutual trust, love and genuine connection.
A further short drive takes us to Brim, the first silo to be painted and the inspiration for the trail we are exploring today. Completed in early 2016 with limited financial resources, Melbourne artist Guido van Helten’s mural depicts an anonymous, multi-generational quartet of female and male farmers. Rendered across these four 1939-built GrainCorp silos, van Helten’s subjects bear expressions that exemplify the strength and resilience of the local farming community.
Our final silo visit will be in Sheep Hills where we will enjoy a sparkling wine reception with Adnate’s depiction of Wergaia Elder, Uncle Ron Marks, and Wotjobaluk Elder, Aunty Regina Hood, alongside two young children, Savannah Marks and Curtly McDonald i as a spectacular backdrop.
After a glass of bubbly beneath our last Silo Art Instillation, the coaches return us to Wycheproof for a quintessential country pub dinner followed by a night of restful sleep as the train remains stabled in the town.
Awake to another Mallee sunrise and the opportunity to enjoy a morning stroll around Wycheproof before our train is shunted into place for a breakfast off-train experience.
After a hearty country off-train breakfast experience at the Terminus Hotel the Grainlander will commence its express journey south through Charlton and Korong Vale toward the Goldfields. Settle into a relaxing day of slow rail travel as R707 works hard and the Mallee melts into the redwood forest and undulating countryside of the Goldfields.
A locally sourced lunch will be served onboard as the train passes through the redwoods of the Goldfields before the Grainlander makes a short stop at the historic station in Maryborough to service the locomotive.
Departing Maryborough settle in for the final afternoon aboard as the Grainlander steams through Ballarat and over the ranges toward Melbourne. Afternoon tea is served in the lounge cars as the train speeds along the main Ballarat - Melbourne line.
After a spectacular view of Melbourne descending the range we speed through the suburbs into Melbourne, Southern Cross where our train will arrive and terminate at 6.05 pm.
off-train experiences
fares
timetable
route map
sleeping carriages
Enjoy overnight travel aboard our fleet of heritage sleeping cars.
on-train facilities
The train will feature a fully stocked bar/club car, a luxurious lounge car and Cafe Hudson offering light snacks, espresso coffee and other refreshments along with a number of additional carriages.
locomotives
Our train to will feature steam locomotive R707 "City of Melbourne" between Ballarat and Sea Lake, assisted at times by our heritage diesel fleet. Due to servicing needs, R707 will be attached to the train in Ballarat. The train will be hauled by a heritage diesel locomotive between Melbourne and Ballarat.
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