Rochester: Art, River and Special Discoveries

Rochester surprises visitors with an outdoor gallery that goes far beyond murals: more than 50 works can be discovered around the town, including painted silos, street art, wood carvings, statues and sculptures. The Campaspe River also offers opportunities to combine active pursuits with quiet breaks. Whether you’re exploring art with the family or looking to spend time outdoors, Rochester offers a range of ways to enjoy your trip.

Art Around Town and at the Festival

Rochester is part of the Silo Art Trail and has an outdoor gallery featuring a wide variety of forms: alongside murals, there are also carvings and sculptures. A walk around Rochester reveals three hand-carved wooden sculptures by Brandon Kroon. If you’re especially interested in public art, you can take in a variety of materials and works rather than focusing only on murals.

At the Rochester Mural Festival, eight artists work for a week on a mural measuring 2.1 × 4.8 metres. The festival takes place at Mural Park near Moore Street in Rochester. It was held annually in the last week of February or the first week of March. The Rochester Show also has a historical date: it was held annually in late February at the Rochester Recreation Reserve.

Places and Stories in Rochester

Individual artworks also tell stories about Rochester itself. In Iddles Lane, a mural painted by Tim Bowtell depicts the story of Ron Iddles, a respected former Victorian homicide detective and local hero of Rochester. The Oppy statue is located on Moore Street. Rochester Court House is one of the town’s older buildings and offers another historical point of interest to discover.

The Red Bridge is also one of the notable landmarks on the Campaspe River: it was built in 1876 and is located by the river. Those interested in local structures and art will find a range of subjects to explore during their stay, without needing to combine them into a single route.

Get Outdoors by the Campaspe River

At the Campaspe River in Rochester, you can go for walks, cycle, jog, picnic and fish. This gives you room to plan different kinds of days: you can get active or make time for a break by the water. Platypuses can be found at various spots along the Campaspe River near Rochester. The area is also occasionally home to squirrel gliders, sugar gliders and feathertail gliders. These animals are a special feature of the river environment, but sightings are not guaranteed.

For an activity on the water, there is a kayak ramp in Rochester. It is accessible via Rochester Riverside Caravan Park and is designed for people of all ages and abilities. You will need to bring your own kayak. Bringing your own equipment is therefore an important consideration when deciding whether to include this activity in your trip.

Play, Sport and Museum

If you’re travelling with children, you can visit Wirima at Rotary Park, a nature-inspired play area. Its features include a play kitchen, the Mouse House and a park library. These different elements offer a range of opportunities to play and browse; alongside trips to see art and the river, a visit can become an activity in its own right.

Rochester Recreation Reserve includes two sports ovals, two cricket practice facilities, five netball courts, three equestrian sand arenas and a cross-country course. The numbers show just how many different sports facilities the reserve brings together. Rochester Sports Museum adds a collection of sporting memorabilia: it is housed at Rochester Railway Station and holds more than 4,000 items.

If you’d like to explore more local pages: Amphitheatre, Lalbert, Sea Lake, Condah, Rawson, Cape Paterson, Gruyere, Bellarine.

For the overview of the wider region: Victoria.