For many who grew up in Nhill, the Noske Brothers flour mill, and its sizeable concrete silo, was a significant backdrop to their childhood.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Climbing to the top of Australia's largest single bin silo was a right of passage for some.
But the future of the silo, which is proudly 10ft higher than the one in Horsham, is in question as costs are made to demolish parts of the property.
Nhill residents have pooled their efforts together in a bid to secure the future of one of the town's most notable landmarks.
The 'Save our silo' group filled the Nhill Uniting Church at a public meeting this week to discuss a project to buy and preserve the mill.
The group was organised by Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre historian John Deckert who said with action, the mill could face a bleak future.
"If we don't buy this place there's a good chance someone will gut it, put a fence around it, leave it like the hotel at Dimboola, and then who is going to pay for it?," Mr Deckert said.
"It's a huge project but the alternative isn't worth thinking about it. It's not really about buying it, it's what we do with it. If the community gets behind it, boots and all, we'll handle it easily."
At the meeting, the Save our Silo group announced they would be forming a committee to oversee the project's future.
Mr Deckert said the group had arranged for a structural engineer to look at the structure.
"Perception in the community, that's the number one thing. That there has to be a report going out to the community to confirm the structural strength and costs in the years to come," Mr Deckert said.
"It's not going to fall down, the wind won't blow it down, and an earthquake won't take it. The roof is the main problem."
Former RACV Motoring Interest manager Daryl Meek was a guest speaker at the event and provided his knowledge of community-driven heritage projects to the group.
Mr Meek said the materials in the mill would be worth more than the cost to buy the entire structure, requiring the community to get in before the property had been stripped.
"In two years, looking at heritage listing and the avenues available to us will be a good idea," Mr Meek said.
"But the short-term is about acquiring it. The structure is just amazing. Some of the timbers are a foot square. The value of that demolished is incredible."
In the short term, the group aims to raise enough funds to buy the structure and secure it from demolition.
Mr Deckart estimated the group would need $100,000 by the end of the year to support the project's first steps.
READ MORE:
Once the project was purchased, a future committee would apply for Victorian government grants to repair and renew the structure.
"The only way we're going to find out is to tackle all the problems - there will be thousands of them, little and big," Mr Deckert said.
"I would hope to see $150,000 to ensure we could handle the first 12 months. By then we should have some sort of fundraising event organised."
Hindmarsh Shire councillors Rob Gersch, Wendy Bywaters, Melanie Albrecht and Debra Nelson also attended the event.
Cr Bywaters said she was excited by the project and remembered being too scared to climb the silo in her youth.
"I have no doubt that the Nhill community will come together, as they have before, and that Nhill's silo has a bright future as a unique tourist destination and community hub," Cr Bywaters said.
"As a small community punching above its weight, Nhill has successfully fundraised for the Nhill Swamp boardwalk restoration project, the Avro Anson and the new early years centre."
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark www.mailtimes.com.au/
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/Wim_Mail_Times
- Follow us on Instagram www.instagram.com/wimmeramailtimes/