We are proud Gippslanders. Day trips in Gippsland are what we long for, to see more of our beautiful part of the state of Victoria. From mountains to mighty rivers, pristine beaches and old towns we have it all. We try to visit as many Gippsland towns, festivals, markets and local Gippsland attractions as we possibly can…but street art in Yarram?
As I walked the main street, I never thought I’d be chasing street art in Yarram. But here I was looking for the magnificent street murals painted by Heesco, a world-renown artist. This tiny town in South Gippsland, Yarram, is now a Heesco Town and if you can visit Yarram to see the street art you absolutely should.
Who is Heesco?
Just a little back story on the artist known as Heesco. Heesco was born in Mongolia before immigrating to Australia. It is here that he developed his love for street art. And this is where Yarram has been able to benefit from one man’s love for art. If you have done the New South Wales Silo art trail you have probably seen one of his works. While Yarram has no large silos for artwork there are plenty of walls waiting to be made over.
How do I find the street art murals in Yarram?
We took a day trip to Yarram to see street art. There are 10 street art murals in Yarram that you are able to find. It will depend on the direction you enter Yarram from but we have put them in order if you were visiting Yarram from Traralgon. If you were visiting Yarram from Melbourne you will need to start in Alberton.
We found that some of the street art in Yarram was hard to find so we have put this post together from our experience and hope that it helps you find all and maybe a few extra on your day trip to Yarram for Heesco street art.
The Yarram Golf Club
This may be your first or your last mural (depending on your route through Yarram). You will find this mural after driving up the dirt road towards the Yarram golf club clubhouse. To the left, as you arrive at the car park is a small concrete water tank. You can park your car here and against the clubhouse, you will find the Gary Player mural.
Yarram golf club address
The address you will need for the Golf course Heesco mural is 42 Golf Links Rd, Yarram VIC 3971
The Yarram golf club is located around 5 km’s from the Yarram town centre.
MG Trading (Murray Goulburn Yarram)
This Heesco mural is located on the outer wall that faces out of town. This mural is of a tanker driver and farmer in the area. Its bright colours make it completely unmissable if you are heading into the town of Yarram from the Yarram golf course.
MG Trading Yarram address
The address for the MG Trading store Heesco mural in Yarram is 39 Commercial Rd, Yarram VIC 3971
The MG Trading store is located just out of the Yarram town limits. If you need petrol this is also a great place to fill up your car.
Brown and Wigg
The Brown and Wigg mural is easily visible from the street and with ample parking out the front you can park your car here to wander the main street of Yarram for the rest of the street artworks located in the town.
Brown and Wigg Yarram address
The address you will need for the Brown and Wigg Yarram store Heesco mural is 191 Commercial Rd, Yarram VIC 3971
Wynne’s Building
For this street art mural in Yarram, you will have to look up. Located above the rooftops on the old Wynne’s Drapery building you will see the two dolphins playing happily in the waves.
This one I have to admit took us a little longer to find and we weren’t sure if it was a part of the Yarram street art by Heesco.
Wynne’s Drapery building address
The address for the Wynne’s Building Heesco mural is 200 Commercial Road, Yarram VIC 3971
Yarram Bakery
This one was another tricky one to find. You will find the large black and white mural down the alleyway between the two shops. It is very easy to see once you know what you are looking for. This was one of my favourites of the 10 street art murals in Yarram. It focuses on migrants who have come from far and wide to make Australia their home and love it dearly including the local Vietnamese business owner Liem Nguyen and his family.
Yarram Bakery address
The address you will need for the Yarram Bakery Heesco mural is 222 Commercial Rd, Yarram VIC 3971
Top tip for some lunch in Yarram:
If you have spent the day wandering the area and are in need of a bite to eat, The Yarram Bakery is one of the best places in Yarram to eat. Pop in for a delicious jelly slice and a steak pie.
If your Travels in Gippsland need to be more budget-friendly you can pop into the Woolworths supermarket for a cheaper lunch option.
Drakefords Coffee Roasting Yarram
We actually missed this Heesco Mural. The map for Yarram street art was not working at that time and getting the instructions were really hard. We will go back to Yarram and add this one to our list in the next few weeks. This mural is focused on the Mattern family who was pioneers in the hardware industry in the town. Soon it will be starting a new life as the Bean Pedlar with coffee coming here from all over the world.
Drakefords Coffee roasting Yarram address
The address you will need for the Drakefords Heesco mural is 259 Commercial Rd Yarram Victoria 3971
Yarram Beta Home Living (rear of the building)
There are two of the murals at the back of the Beta Home living building in Yarram
- The first is a mural is of Victoria’s first female park ranger. Kara Moana Healey was made a park ranger of the Tarra Bulga National Park and spent her years gathering specimens from the park, some of which had not been discovered before.
- The second is a large mural of local native animals. Don’t forget to get a picture of it too!
Beta Electrical Yarram address
The address you will need for the Yarram Beta home living Heesco mural is 262 Commercial Rd, Yarram VIC 3971. This is the address for the front of the building.
Top tip for finding the Heesco Street art in Yarram:
You cannot walk through the shop to see them and you will have to walk to the rear of the building to see the murals or drive your car if you are not walking
The Federal Coffee Palace
The Federal Coffee Palace is a huge two-storey building on the corner near the BP service station. This amazing and colourful town mural is dedicated to another local Ralph Vale and his bullock train that was well known in the area. This Heesco town mural is located on the side of the building facing the BP service station.
The Federal Coffee Palace Yarram address
The address for the Coffee Palace in Yarram Heesco mural is 305 Commercial Rd, Yarram VIC 3971
The Ship Inn
This mural in the Heesco town of Yarram is located approximately 1.5km’s from the Yarram town centre. This was by far my favourite one and I loved finding little quirky items within the mural.
We were lucky enough to have Paul the owner of the Ship Inn there to talk to us and tell us the story of how Heesco came to Yarram for the Yarram town mural project.
The Ship Inn Yarram address
The address you will need for The Ship Inn Heesco mural is 480 Commercial Rd, Yarram VIC 3971
Top tip for Ship Inn street art mural in Yarram:
- Not only will you find the large Heesco mural there are also two others that are on the property.
- If you can talk to Paul and Jodie the owners of the Ship Inn and find out the story behind their street art mural
- The mural is located within the hotel grounds so please be careful and respectful of the guests that are staying there when you are looking at the mural.
- Go over to the Welcome to Yarram sign and sign your name inside the boat. Can you find the Wyld’s names there too?
The Victoria Hotel Alberton
Around 5.6km’s from the Yarram town centre, you will find the last of the Heesco town murals. On the side of the Victoria Hotel in Alberton, you will find the mural that depicts the life of a publican in the old days with the kegs being unloaded from the horse and cart.
The Victoria Hotel Alberton address
The address you will need for the Victoria Hotel Alberton Heesco mural is 53 Turnbull Street, Alberton Victoria 3971
Mechanics Institute Hall In Yarram
In October of 2019, Heesco started painting a new mural in Yarram at the mechanic’s Institute Hall. The new mural is dedicated to local, Ada Crossley (1871-1929), born in Tarraville, Ada lived in the local area until the age of 15 where she played the organ and did the singing at local churches.
After moving to Melbourne and becoming a professional singer, Europe called where Ada went on to perform for Queen Victoria and the royal family on numerous occasions, performed at the Titanic Memorial Concert held at the Royal Albert Hall in 1914 and recorded the first vinyl gramophone record for the Victor Company ‘Red Seal’ label while performing in New York.
The Mechanics Institute Hall in Yarram address
The address you will need for the Mechanics Institute Hall mural is 2-4 Church Street, Yarram.
A map to the Yarram street art
If you are still struggling to find street art in Yarram there is a map that will help you find them all. We have the link below for you to keep so you can find them better.
Heesco Town Mural Project Yarram Victoria.
Top tips for finding street art in Yarram
If you are making a day trip to Yarram for the street art you can take your time with most of the street art located in the main street.
You can wander the gorgeous tree-lined main street and easily park your car with ample parking.
Being a small rural town you will find many of the locals happy to help you find the Yarram street art if you are having trouble.
Remember some of the Heesco town murals are on private property and you need to respect the rules there especially at the Yarram golf course.
There are plenty of places to eat in Yarram or grab a coffee as you wander. This area was hit hard earlier in the year with the bush fires that hit local areas. Visitors are more than welcome in Yarram.
At this stage, due to social distancing and travel restrictions, the local public toilets in Yarram are shut. So are many of the restaurants and cafes in town. Hopefully with restrictions lifting these will be open soon as well so you can enjoy more time in Yarram.
Where is Yarram?
The small town of Yarram is located in Victoria, Australia. It is a part of the Wellington Shire and is in Southeast Gippsland.
How do I get to Yarram from Melbourne?
The town of Yarram is around 223km’s east of Melbourne and can take around 2 and a half hours driving time along the M1 or just under three hours along the South Gippsland Highway.
If you are planning a day trip from Melbourne to Yarram the South Gippsland highway may be the more scenic route for you to take.
Can I get to Yarram on public transport from Melbourne?
You can catch public transport from Melbourne to Yarram for a day trip if you do not have a car.
Melbourne to Yarram by bus
You can catch the bus to Yarram from Southern Cross Station in Melbourne for your day trip to Yarram. The journey will take roughly 3 hours and 40 minutes. The ticket will cost you between $26 and $40.
You will need a myki card to be able to get on the bus.
Melbourne to Yarram by train and bus
You can catch a train to Yarram from Melbourne but it will include a stop in Traralgon. You catch the train from Flinders Street station to Traralgon and then a bus from Trarglon to Yarram. This journey will take you nearly 4 and a half hours which will severely cut into you exploring in Yarram time. The ticket will cost a little less being between $23 and $30.
You will also need a myki card for this trip to Yarram as well.
Places to stay in Yarram
Ship Inn Motel is one of the top choices for your stay in Yarram based on travellers recommendations. This 3-star property offers free breakfast and a restaurant. Other good options for your stay include Yarram Cottage – Art and Accommodation. and the Tarra Bulga Guest House just out of town.
There are not many small farming communities that can attract people like Heesco to create such beautiful art in their town. This is a stunning and beautiful way to bring some of the city into the country in such a unique way. A visit to Yarram is a beautiful day trip from Melbourne.
Not only do you get to see some world-class street art you also get to see some world-class scenery in the rolling hills of South Gippsland that just happened to be right out your back door.
We hope this article from us here at Travels in Gippsland has you inspired to visit Yarram in Gippsland. For more amazing ideas on where to holiday in Gippsland click through to our South Gippsland page for more brilliant Gippsland inspiration.
Some more travel inspiration for your holiday in Gippsland
About the Author
Mark has grown up and lived in the Gippsland area all his life. Being born and raised in Gippsland he knows a thing or 2 about this amazing region. When Mark is not working he is out exploring the best of Gippsland with his wife and kids
Fantastic presentation and great photography of the murals.