Serviceton Silo Art
Painting of the Serviceton silo mural was completed in 2025, adding a striking new landmark to the Wimmera Mallee Silo Art Trail. Adelaide-based artist Jack Fran created the large-scale work, which captures the story of the South Australia and Victoria border dispute. The mural features historical surveyors Henry Wade and Edward White, whose work shaped the establishment of the border and the identity of the town.
The design reflects Serviceton’s place in interstate history and celebrates the heritage of the rail precinct, long recognised as a gateway between the two states.
Border dispute
The border between Victoria and South Australia was defined in 1836 to follow the 141° east meridian. In the mid-1800s, surveyors Henry Wade and Edward White were tasked with marking the border on the ground. Their measurements were slightly inaccurate, displacing the line by several kilometres and creating a strip of disputed territory that included the area around Serviceton.
When the inter‑colonial railway between Melbourne and Adelaide was built in the 1880s, both colonies agreed to jointly construct a border station and named the town after the Victorian Premier, James Service, recognising its location in the contested zone. Customs checks and crew changes took place there while the legal border remained unsettled. After decades of dispute, the matter was resolved by the British Privy Council in 1914, confirming the surveyed line as the official border and placing Serviceton firmly in Victoria.
The mural celebrates Wade and White’s work, which directly shaped the border’s location and the subsequent establishment of Serviceton and its railway station.
About the Artist
Jack Fran is an Adelaide artist known for his distinctive large-scale murals across South Australia and beyond. His work often blends portraiture with bold colour and strong storytelling elements, creating pieces that are both contemporary and deeply connected to place. His public artworks appear in regional towns and major cities, and he is recognised for his ability to translate local history into engaging visual narratives.
Painting the silos
Painting began in November 2025 and took about eight days to complete. See photos of the painting process and a time lapse video below.
Viewing the artwork
The Serviceton silos are located on the GrainCorp site near the historic Serviceton Railway Station. Visitors can view the silo safely from the railway station platform. Parking is available nearby, including room for caravans.
About the silos
The Serviceton silos were constructed in 1938 as part of Victoria’s bulk‑grain rail network, supporting the town’s agricultural industry. Serviceton itself was established in 1887, with the railway station opening in 1889, marking the town as a key point on the Melbourne–Adelaide railway line. The silos are now part of the region’s Silo Art Trail, with a mural project announced in 2025 to celebrate the town’s history and heritage.