BIN night is fast becoming a recurring thing of beauty for neighbourly discussion and admiration in Creswick.
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The weekly roll-out is being transformed into a art trail about town with elaborately and brightly decorated bins becoming a town feature in lockdown.
Painted rubbish bins are the feature of an inclusive movement known as Creswick Wheelism Art Project, led by Creswick Neighbourhood and in partnership with Hepburn Shire Council.
The bin trail started as the idea of artist Lisa Timson, who on a whim decorated her rubbish bin a couple of years ago. People kept commenting on how much they loved her bin on the streetscape and so, with partner Ross Jones, she applied for a grant to bring a little more bin joy across the town.
"People are all smiling," Ms Timson said. "The nice thing is there are artists who have been shut down and have no inspiration in lockdown or artists who haven't worked with acrylic paint before who have been getting involved.
"...For me, it's a vision of on-again, off-again streetscape art. Neighbours are talking and reconnecting."
The grant pays professional artists in the town to paint bins for the elderly or those otherwise physically unable to get involved.
Ms Timson and Mr Jones said the standard had been exceptional but did not want this to intimidate others.
One Creswick primary school has been encouraging children to plan out and get painting their bins in art class.
Some finished bins have been reflecting owners' interests or pets. Creswick Flowers at Olicartia was one of the first businesses on board and features flowers.
There are basic rules: no painting the lid, shire logo or serial number; and no slogans, text or offensive images. Art was also only for landfill bins, not recycle bins.
Creswick Neighbourhood Centre community engagement coordinator Tahlia Horsburgh said support for the Wheelism project had been amazing.
"It's great to get the community involved and to bring out some happiness," Ms Horsburgh said. "It's really great to see so many people getting involved and we're expecting to see more once more kids get painting."
Community members hoped to attract Christmas Light-style tours on bin nights, once regional Victoria started to open up. Until now, it has bin a neighbourhood secret.
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