The Nhill Heritage Silo Project started fundraising efforts to buy the Noske Brothers Silo in May 2021, with a goal of $150,000 by Christmas.

Since then, the project has received $88,000 in donations, enough to cover the purchase of the structure and initial operating costs.

Nhill Heritage Silo Porject committee member John Deckart said he was amazed at how the community got behind the project.

"We are immensely pleased about the amount of people who have put money up, and considerable amounts of money," he said.

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"We have had donations to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars per family, that is just amazing in my opinion."

Mr Deckart said the group had enough money to purchase the silo section of the structure, and looked to negotiate with the owners, Ahrens, to acquire the remaining flour mill section.

"It is going steadily at the moment. There are quite a few things that we can't hurry, one is the conveyancing. We have got to the stage where we can actually pay for the building but we have to wait for the lawyers to do all of the legal stuff so that we can get access to it," he said.

"I can't see that happening in another month, but once we get access to the building I think quite a few things will happen that will push our whole fundraising effort forward."

Mr Deckert said there were concerns about the integrity of the 103 year-old-structure, however the silo and mill complex passed a preliminary engineering test conducted in late-2020.

"There are some who wonder if we'll ever be able to do what we hope to be able to do, and that is fair enough, the place does look like a run-down 130 year old building. But it is surprising how sound it is in actual fact," he said.

"If you could imagine what somebody's suit would look like when it was 130 years old, it would need a dry clean, it would need a bit of a polish up and this is the same."

He thanked the community for donating and said the project would be an important tourism piece in Nhill's future.

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"For the people that have put up $25, $100, $200, it is all very welcome and it all contributes to our belief that the township is behind this project.

"Even if someone comes up with $20, they are saying 'I agree that this is what you should be doing and here is the money to help you along'. Every dollar that is put in is a boost to our community."

The Nhill Silo Heritage Project is welcoming any members of the community who wish to volunteer to join the general committee (membership is $30 per year).

For more information on the group, visit: https://nhillsiloheritageproject.godaddysites.com/.

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