ST ARNAUD artist Kyle Torney has contributed to the Silo Art Trail – in a unique way. 

Torney says his mural at The Royal hotel captures the essence and history of the town. 

The mural, painted on the inner back fence of hotel’s outdoor area and featuring faces from the 1800s, is an unofficial stop on the Silo Art Trail which spans from Rupanyup to Patchewollock. 

Torney was born and raised at St Arnaud and works at hotel.

“The idea came about when Robbie, Vicki and Denise, the owners of the pub, wanted a mural that reflected our town and what it was built on – which is a gold mine,” he said. 

“We went for some sepia colours. In some areas, I have rubbed the metal so that rust comes through and then sealed it at a certain point so the rust can’t get any worse.”

Torney moved to Melbourne for several years to practice his skills, but said he couldn’t stay away from his home town. 

“I recently moved back to start a family,” he said.

“Art has always been a passion of mine since I was young.” 

Torney said the artwork was an ever-growing project for him and the hotel owners. 

“We are waiting to figure out what will complement the art already there,” he said. 

“What we are going to do now is we will do a tribute to the guy who initially designed the pub.” 

The artwork features miners, the Carlton Draft vintage image ‘I allus has wan at 11’ and a portrait of a mother nursing a child. 

“We actually had a bit of trouble coming up with an idea for a notable female of that era so we went with a behind-the-scenes figure who did the hard yards to raise the family,” Torney said.

He said he specialised in portraiture and figurative art. 

“They are what I focus on the most during my art endeavours,” he said. 

Torney said he was trying to secure money to create a stop at St Arnaud along the Silo Art Trail. 

“We’re trying to get silo art here,” he said.