Rainbow

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Visit our heritage

Yurunga Homestead in Rainbow is a heritage-listed home built by Mr A.G. Cust in 1909. This huge Edwardian style home offers a glimpse into Mallee life during the early pioneering days of the region. Yurunga holds an impressive collection of local heritage which gives visitors a greater appreciation and understanding of Rainbow and the greater Mallee region. A 'must-see' stop when exploring the Wimmera Mallee.

Steeped in history, a visit to the Parish of Pella can feel like a trip to another time. St John's Lutheran Church was built in 1911 with local limestone and is still operating today. The church houses a magnificently restored pipe organ and a visit to the church to hear the local organists is a must. The manse and primary school both house historical displays of the local area. Nearby is the heritage listed Stasinowsky Lime Kiln. Built in 1914, it was the source of lime for many of the limestone buildings in the region. Stasinowsky sourced limestone for burning from the local quarry reserve. Stasinowsky and his son Alfred built many houses in the Rainbow area, and in 1909-10 built the Pella Lutheran church and manse from limestone obtained from the quarry.

Our Heritage

Visit Silo Art Sites

Taking the Silo Art Trail to the next level (28 metres to be exact), the Rainbow Silo incorporates a lookout tower and internal artwork within the silo which is accessible via an elevator and/or staircase. View the fantastic external artwork by Geoffrey Carran from various heights as you make your way up the tower. The mesmerising internal silo art by Collide Public Art incorporates lighting and imagery inspired by the flowers in Llew's garden hanging in the immense silo space. Exit the elevator to a large viewing platform giving expansive views across Rainbow and the southern Wimmera Mallee before leading into a top viewing point of the internal silo art. The artwork and lookout views will leave you breathless.

Nine kilometres north of Rainbow lies the Albacutya Silo Art. Melbourne artist Kitt Bennett was inspired to create an artwork that tells the story of growing up in the country as a youth. Kitt wanted to keep the artwork somewhat surreal and distorted from reality, much like the stories from the past that often get embellished through the journey of time.

Silo Art Trail

Visit our lakes

Rainbow Lake is a man-made recreational lake two kilometres south of Rainbow. This beautiful small lake is ideal for swimming, relaxing and cooling down from the summer heat. 

Lake Albacutya is 12 kilometres north of Rainbow in Victoria's Mallee Region. Identified as a Ramsar listed wetland of international importance, has been dry for many years. Lake Albacutya is the next lake after Lake Hindmarsh along the Wimmera River system. After significant and sequential rain events Lake Hindmarsh becomes the largest fresh water lake in Victoria, and overflows along Outlet Creek to begin filling Lake Albacutya. The last time water flowed into the lake was in the mid-1990's and it hasn't been completely filled since the early 1970's. Although dry, Lake Albacutya is a great place to camp, explore in your four wheel drive, walk and take in the natural world. It is a very popular area for birdwatching, wildflowers and motorbike riding. It's incredibly dark night time skies make it a perfect destination for star gazing.

Lakes and Rivers

Go for a Walk

Hermans Hills Lookout is in Big Desert State Forest, a 20 minute drive south west of Rainbow. It offers views of the vast Mallee landscape that stretches as far as the eye can see, taking in Lake Hindmarsh and the Big Desert. Marvel at this landscape which once made up part of the vast ocean five million years ago. During the picturesque 3.1 kilometre nature walk to the lookout, immerse yourself in the Mallee. If you're lucky, you may spot a mallee fowl, diamond sand skipper butterfly, or even some rare skinks and lizards, such as the mallee worm lizard or the lined earless dragon. Watch out – there may also be snakes along the trail.

Hermans Hill walk