Restoring the Nhill Silo isn’t a small endeavour, nor is it a cheap or an easy one.

Nevertheless, a passionate group of local volunteers is committed to making it happen.

The Nhill Silo Heritage Project was incorporated in 2021, following the purchase of the structure on behalf of the community.

Its mission is to preserve, protect, and restore the historic complex.

“I joined because I wanted to help keep an icon of the history of the Nhill district around for future generations of people to see in real life,” said committee president Peter Duperouzel.

James Fry built the Lowan Mill on the Davis Avenue site back in 1890, providing great opportunities for local wheat farmers as well as local townspeople looking for work.

He installed a steam-powered electric generator in 1892 made Nhill the first town in country Victoria to get safe electric lighting.

The Noske Brothers acquired the site in 1905 and wasted no time getting to work.

A prosperous season, combined with the mill’s location on the railway between Melbourne and Adelaide, made it possible to deliver 1000 tons of flour directly to Melbourne over the course of just 11 days in 1906.

By the time 1919 rolled around, the business was growing, so they built a massive free-standing bin from reinforced concrete.

It changed hands a number of times and was in use for more than 100 years.

“My grandparents, father, and uncles supplied grain to the silo,” says committee member Gary Hall.

“As I get older, I feel more of a kinship with the community and the earlier generations who had lived and worked to set up those early businesses.

I could not imagine driving to town and not seeing his historic landmark in my view.

There was also a little bit of curiosity in me about what it was like structurally.” Nhill Silo is believed to be the largest single-cell concrete silo in the Southern Hemisphere and it played an important role in Victoria’s agricultural and industrial history.

The committee hopes its restoration will make it a drawcard for the town, not just as a community asset but as an Australian cultural icon.

Since the committee was established, the project has grown to include eight members of the executive team, six highly skilled people on the support team, and more than 150 paid members.

So why are the volunteers so keen to take on such an enormous challenge? “The Nhill Heritage Silo Project has allowed me to join a multi-talented group of people that share a common interest in preserving Nhill’s past and protecting its future,” says committee member Trevor Schwarz.

“Volunteering helps me to give to, and to keep in touch with, our community.” “I attend the meetings and do my best in the role of volunteer when required because of the importance of the Nhill Silo to the locals here,” said support team member Helen Woodhouse-Herrick.

“And of course, me being a Nhill girl, we need to protect our icon of the town for years to come.” The past two years have been very busy.

The structure was purchased on behalf of the community and a considerable amount of work has been done clearing the site and conducting a safety audit and essential repairs.

Work is currently underway on the floor, the roof, and the front and back walls.

The committee organised a very successful open day and contributed to the resounding success of the Nhill Heritage Weekend in 2022.

It has also hosted a number of tours for private groups.

The restoration of Nhill Silo is a long-term project but a rewarding one.

Volunteers are always welcome; please follow Nhill Silo Heritage Project on Facebook or visit nhillsiloheritageproject.org to learn more.

You can play an important role in preserving the past and protecting the future.

This article appeared in the Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, 17 May 2023.