Street art, murals, silo art or even graffiti art has become increasingly popular in Australia. Not just for art enthusiasts, but for travellers or weekend trippers. During our recent trip through the centre of New South Wales to Southern Victoria, I saw many good examples of street art. I was actually enthralled by it and took many photos. But imagine my excitement when I learnt about an entire town of street art? The street art of Yarram in South Gippsland was not only eye-catching but one of the best displays of street art I’ve seen anywhere in Australia.

Where is Yarram

Yarram is located in South Gippsland, 222 kilometres east of Melbourne. It takes just under 3 hours to drive by car via Dandenong, Kow Wee Rup, Leongatha and Foster, on the South Gippsland Highway. The town is set in a valley on the Tarra River, surrounded by mountains and is a rural service centre for region.

Just west of the town of Yarram you will get a small entree of the street art in the tiny village of Alberton at the historic Victoria Hotel.

Yarram

The name Yarram, means ‘plenty of water’ or ‘waterfalls’. It is popular for its proximity to Ninety Mile Beach, the cool rainforest of the Tarra-Bulga National Park, the Strzelecki Ranges and the wild beauty of Wilsons Promontory. 

It has a number of historical buildings with a total of 23 places of historic interest in the town. Most of the historic buildings can be observed by simply walking down the main street. 

The Tarra Trail is a pleasant 7 kilometre trail from Yarram to Alberton following the historic Great Southern Railway. There are also the Tarra Falls and Tarra Valley Rainforest Walk in the Tarra Bulga National Park, 32 kilometres outside of Yarram.

However, by far the biggest drawcard to Yarram is the astonishing street art.

Yarram Street Art

It is fairly obvious that when you walk down the main street of Yarram that there is an abundance of street art. There are 24 murals in fact, that stretch from Yarram Golf Club at one end of town to the other. You will find them in the Memorial Gardens, on the Men’s Shed, on business shopfronts, Indoor Sports Centre, hall, pubs, Ship Inn Hotel, cafes and bars.

Street Artist, Khosnaran Khurelbataar (also known as Heesco), was commissioned in 2020 to create a series of murals to attract visitors to the town. Heesco is an immigrant from Mongolia, resides in Melbourne and has established himself as one of the leading contemporary mural artists in Australia.

The project in Yarram has since received both national and international recognition. Yarram and region has also been awarded the “Best Street Art Trail” in Australia.

The best way to navigate the mural trail of Yarram is to grab a map from the Yarram Visitor Information Centre in the main street. Then follow the Heesco Town – Yarram Street Art Trail, commencing from either end of town.

Favourite Street Murals in Yarram

Many of the murals in Yarram depict scenes of Australia’s heritage, including historical figures, Anzac legends, farmers, native animals and local heroes. Here are some of my favourites:

Battle of Beersheba

Men’s Shed

Bullock Train from Walhalla to Port Albert 

Liem Nguyen Thank you to Australia

Local Dairy Farmer and his Dog

Ada Crossley Opera Singer

Shearer and his Dog

Indigenous Mural

Yarram was like a hidden secret tucked away in South Gippsland. It has certainly put this rural town on the map and brought the town back to life through its extraordinary street art.