Just north of our stay in Port Lincoln is the delightfully named Tumby Bay, named by Mathew Flinders after the town of Tumby in Lincolnshire, England. We were here to see the painted Silo recently completed but we found another reason to visit.

Having first sighted an enormous painting on a grain Silo on TV we have been making a point of visiting and photographing as many as we can on our trip around the country. We saw our first at the harbour in Albany, Western Australia – a spectacular Weedy Sea Dragon visible right across the bay.

We had been advised of this relatively new one at Tumby Bay by the Port Lincoln Information Centre and it had easy access and full view of the painting with dedicated parking. But along the way, and ready for a coffee, we spotted a popular looking cafe and what a gem it was. Called L’Anse, meaning ‘curved bay’ in French, which happens to describe Tumby’s bay quite fittingly, it is a very professionally run French cafe.

Freshly baked croissants are hugely popular but had run out by the time of our visit so instead we had a delicious brunch. The French speaking owners are very friendly and make you feel very welcome.

The coffee and food was so good we returned a few days later on our way further north but again we had been beaten to the croissants. However, instead we discovered the best, lightest, tastiest, freshly baked muffins either of us had ever tasted – apple, rhubarb and sultana.

Silo Art

The 2018 silo painting at Tumby Bay is spread across six grain silos and depicts two boys launching themselves as if jumping into the sea. Painted by Argentinian artist Martin Ron and his assistant Matt Gorrick, it was inspired by Ron watching children jump into the sea from the town’s jetty.

The two boys in the silo art, Eli Carmody and Morris Webb were photographed jumping from the jetty in 2014 and the image was used as a basis for Ron’s artwork.
There is some artistic interpretation, however, as in the mural the boys are reaching for the sky rather than the sea.

If you ever happen to visit the painted Silo at Tumby Bay, and you should, make sure you drop by L’Anse Cafe early, say Bonjour and enjoy a croissant and coffee… you won’t regret it.