In September of 2019, the small waterfront town of Cowell, on the Eyre Peninsula, joined the ranks of Kimba and Tumby Bay by unveiling the latest Silo Art in South Australia.

The enormous image depicts the local legend Lionel Deer who had kept a heard of camels in Cowell for the best part of 40-years. He is accompanied by his camel Diamantina and a Port Lincoln parrot. For 30-years of those years Lionel paraded the camels through town at Christmas and occasionally dressed as Santa Clause. Now retired, Lionel, a natural larakin, is just as entertaining as ever and a popular character much loved by school children who love to explore his shack of old artefacts collected over a lifetime.

We didn’t know who Lionel was before he crossed over the road and greeted us with a big friendly smile and greeting as we strolled through town as visitors on our way to see the silo. Even a few of the locals at the corner pub welcomed us to the town and wished us safe travels. They’re a friendly bunch here.

As seen on TV

Recently an episode of Ten Networks ‘The Project’ featured Cowell’s new silo art and met with Lionel and several of the town’s residents. One local, when asked about Lionel, commented with a note of affection, ‘We thought we were going to get rid of him, now his ugly face is going to last forever!’

The painting, reaching 20-metres tall, was completed in 20-days by the highly talented Austin Moncrieff, also known as Nitsua (Austin backwards) from Byron Bay in New South Wales and assisted by Michael ‘Schmick’ Motteran-Smith who has also painted a nearby mural illustrating the local oyster industry.

Situated on North Terrace at the Cowell sporting complex, this is a silo with very easy access and plenty of parking available – caravans and motorhomes included. It is also a good location to take aerial photos using a drone as long as you are aware of any aircraft flying from the local uncontrolled airfield and keep well behind the wire fence line.

It is hoped the painting will attract more people to Cowell as it continues to suffer the worst drought in 20-years.

More of Nitsua’s work can be viewed on his website: www.nitsua.com.au