The Clydesdale Horses

In 2019 a third silo was painted as part of the Benalla Wall to Wall Festival, and after the success of the first two the town invited Jimmy DVate back to paint the town’s famous Clydesdale Horses, Clem, Sam and Banjo.

Clydesdale horses have always been the backbone of the Goorambat farming community. This ancient breed of horse have been used for farming from the time of the first settlers until long after the first tractor arrived in Goorambat in 1924, and to this day are one of the most beloved work animals of the district.

In 2017 the Clydesdale was removed from the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia’s endangered list as there are now has enough registered horses in its studbook in Australia to no longer be considered in danger of extinction. The Commonwealth Clydesdale Horse Society of Australia reported numbers were above 3000, enough to be considered “safe”.

Clem and Banjo were bred in the area by Graeme Trewin at the prize-winning Lavereen Stud, founded 1920. They were later sold to the Martin family of Toowoomba, QLD who then bred Sam, a grandson of Banjo.

The silo painting was taken from an original photograph by Bob Britcher AFIP AAPS PSQA, and was then adapted in the painting to incorporate topical items such as the farmer’s hat on Sam’s back!

The Goorambat & District Community Group built a fabulous viewing area, on a small patch of land donated by the Greaves family, owners of these fully working