Dimboola Art Accommodation
You can now stay at the Dimboola Imaginarium in the former National Bank of Australasia building. The historic premise was an emblem of Dimboola's prosperity at the start of the 20th century. The bank manager's bedrooms upstairs are on Airbnb, and art and books fill every room, so your mind is excited. You can also use Dimboola as a base to explore the Silo Art Trail, which is the most extensive outdoor gallery in Australia.
“Victoria is Australia’s undisputed home of the outdoor art movement and the best place to explore the fast-growing silo-art trail,” wrote Alasdair McGregor, author of the new Australian Geographic coffee-table book, The Silo Art Trail, Australia’s Outdoor Art Revolution. “Many stunning art sites are strewn across the state, particularly the Wimmera Mallee region, and they provide plenty of good reasons to stop and stay awhile among classic rural landscapes populated by welcoming communities.”
The Silo Art Trail brings tourists to towns and pride to rural communities. Still, there is a lack of accommodation for visitors in the smaller towns. The councils in the Wimmera Mallee are aware of this problem. Hindmarsh Shire Council rolled out the Business Innovation Tourism Infrastructure program last year, and the Dimboola Imaginarium was one of the businesses that received a grant to assist with creating unique accommodations.
“Make sure you visit the nearby Pink Lake, and take time to see the Dimboola Imaginarium,” wrote Alasdair McGregor, “a whimsical gift shop (complete with a giant toy giraffe) house in the beautifully restored former premises of the National Bank of Australasia.”
The five bedrooms upstairs were part of the bank manager's residence. The Dimboola Imaginarium experience extends to each bedroom, with different colour schemes and themes. Travellers who want unique experiences can book accommodation on Airbnb. Only one booking is taken at a time so that privacy is maintained.
“An exceptional experience,” Anne Wallace wrote in the review. “What will stay with us the most is the opportunity to experience an amazing cornucopia of art, décor & design in a significant historical building that is being cared for with enthusiasm & imagination."
"Walking into Dimboola Imaginarium reminded me of one of my favourite books, 'The Merchant of Marvels and the Peddler of Dreams'. It was everything I could have imagined, and more,” wrote Vincenzo Viola from Melbourne. "Wonderful, welcoming and kind hosts, special surroundings, beautiful decor and design, scrumptious linens and a wonderfully comfortable bed in a grand and beautiful heritage building. To be able to take time out and ponder life in front of their wood fire surrounded by their Imaginarium was priceless. A truly unique and special stay. My wife and I will most definitely return.”
“The picturesque store is very Insta worthy, as are the bedrooms upstairs,” wrote Meray Aziz from Melbourne.
Nat Charlesworth from Adelaide wrote, "Just wow. This is a unique and inspirational place to stay."
Sharon Sarman from Adelaide wrote, "Felt like we stepped into a sanctuary filled with beautiful, colourful and unique things that you would normally see in museums!”
"In the past, Dimboola was best known as the site of several famous landscape paintings – artist Sidney Nolan was stationed here in the 1940s during World War I", wrote John Dunn in the current August/September issue of Outback magazine, "and as a name and base for the popular 1970s wedding comedy Dimboola by playwright Jack Hibberd.”
“The small Wimmera town of Dimboola is reinventing itself in unusual ways,” wrote John Dunn. “Chan and Jamie decided they needed a change from 20 years of preparing fine food in their Melbourne restaurants at Docklands and Yarraville. They had a vision for what they called an ‘Imaginarium’, where one could be absorbed into a world of class and style.”
Hindmarsh Council mayor Brett Ireland says, "The town has seen an injection of life recently, which is providing a valuable economic stimulus, and we're becoming a wonderful destination."
Broaden your horizon, take a road trip to Dimboola, and let the Dimboola Imaginarium capture your imagination. Stay in the historic building and explore the cultural phenomenon that is the silo Art Trail. See the virtuosic work by Sam Bates (aka Smug), who stayed at the Dimboola Imaginarium when he painted the Arkona and Horsham silos in 2022. He also recently painted the Murtoa silo in 2023.
View a 3D map of the premise at www.dimboolaimaginarium.com and the artwork featured is by Linda Gallus.