The Portland Silos, now know as “The Foundations” were the 20th Silos to be completed in the Australian Silo Art Trail and were completed in May 2018.

The old Portland Cement Works was painted by Guido Van Helten and depict six male Portland Cement workers now in advanced age and one elderly female as well.

Two of the men featured are Thomas Ernest Fitzgerald and Herb Coleman. 

Earnest, a Portland resident, is said to be very proud and excited to see himself on the silo and has said that it has meant a lot to his family. 

Herb was born and bred in Portland and worked as a fitter and turner at the Cement works from 1954 to 1968 until his retirement from the Cement works when he was made redundant. 

The other four men are unknown to me. Though they seem to be walking and winding their way through the silos as if showing the passage of time that the old Cement Works has experienced.

Proudly, the female mural is of Yvonne Hogan. She worked in administration at the Cement Works for a number of years before moving on to pursue other passions in her life.