Australia’s ‘big things’ obsession — and what you might not know about them

Tyler Mitchell By Tyler Mitchell Oct19,2024
The newest big thing was unveiled in Australia last week.
It’s a huge red tractor — a five times bigger replica of a Chamberlain 40K — with a height of 11.5m and a length of 16m now features in the small town of Carnamah in Western Australia.

Since its reveal, the statue has been named the biggest in the world and now joins the long list of Australia’s beloved ‘big things’.

Love for big things

Australia does public art in a big way — quite literally.
From native birds and animals to food items and now an iconic vehicle, highways and public spaces across Australia are lined with gigantic versions of things that have shaped the experience and memories that road trips provide, especially during holidays.
But why is Australia obsessed with scaling things up so much?
Associate professor David Nichols and Dr Cristina Garduño Freeman from the University of Melbourne wrote in a research article on big things that, aside from being demonstrations of how advanced or resourceful a country is, these big structures are just, well, fun.

“Sculptures that encapsulate ‘homo ludens’ or, in real-speak — the playful element of cultures and societies,” they wrote.

These sculptures not only serve as pitstops for travellers on long road trips where they can have some rest and a quick bite but also offer a fun photo opportunity. In addition, they generate revenue for local businesses.
So iconic are these public artworks that many of them have found pride of place on coins and postal stamps released by the Australian government.

Here are some more fun big things travellers can find on road trips across Australia:

The Big Swoop

A huge sculpture of a magpie eating a potato chip.

The giant magpie sculpture created by artist Yanni Pounartzis was installed in Canberra CBD in 2022. Credit: yannipounartzis.com

This half-tonne, 2.4m tall and 3.5m long fibreglass and steel sculpture of one of Australia’s iconic native birds, the magpie, was installed in Garema Place in Canberra CBD in 2022 and has since gained fame on Instagram.

The chip-eating artwork has become so popular that it has inspired the release of a $1 coin and a postage stamp in its honour.

The artwork was created by Yanni Pounartzis after he received a grant from ACT’s City Renewal Authority to support the vitality of the city centre through creative place making initiatives.

The Giant Koala

A statue of a giant koala flanked by tall trees.

The Big Koala is a popular tourist spot located in Dadswells Bridge along the Western Highway in Victoria. Source: Getty / John W. Banagan

A 14m structure created by Dutch sculptor Ben Van Zetten in 1989, the Big Koala is by far one of the most photographed big things in Australia.

In 2023, the Royal Australian Mint struck $1 coins featuring an image of the Giant Koala engraved on them.
The structure is located in the town of Dadswells Bridge, which has a population of only 69, according to the 2021 Census. The reason why the Big Koala was built is not exactly clear, but some believe that it was to raise awareness of their dwindling numbers.

In 2009, the structure was named ‘Sam’ in honour of a koala who was rescued from the deadly Black Saturday bushfires.

The Big Pineapple

A giant structure of a pineapple among tall trees.

The 16m Big Pineapple is located in Woombye, Queensland. Source: Getty / AlizadaStudios

The 16m fibreglass structure is Queensland’s most popular big thing since its unveiling in 1971 as part of the Sunshine Plantation.

The pineapple has been particularly special to the residents of Woombye, Palmwoods, Eudlo and Beerburrum, with the crop becoming even more significant when production increased with the opening of the Golden Circle cannery at Northgate in 1947.
In 2009, the Big Pineapple and its surrounding buildings were listed as heritage sites, and in 2023, a $1 coin with its image was also struck.

Along with the Big Pineapple, the site also features the Big Pineapple visitor area and the Wildlife HQ Zoo and has been the location of the Big Pineapple Music Festival since 2013.

The Big Prawn

A giant statue of a prawn in a parking area.

The Big Prawn is a homage to the local prawning industry in Ballina, NSW. Source: Getty / James D. Morgan

Built in 1989, this 9m prawn sculpture is located at River Street in Ballina above the parking lot of a hardware store.

Not only is it a popular tourist attraction, it is also a symbol of the local prawning industry. In fact, prawns are so popular in the area that the town hosts the Ballina Prawn Festival every November.

The idea came from Hungarian brothers Attila and Louis Mokany, who developed service stations around the NSW region and wanted to attract travellers along the highway to their business.

The Big Kangaroo

Located on the Eyre Highway, between South Australia and Western Australia, stands the unmissable 8m tall Big Kangaroo holding a big jar of Vegemite. And you can even go inside its giant pouch for a photo to feel like a joey.
Installed in 1980, the structure was meant to attract visitors to a truck stop in Border Village ahead of the America’s Cup in Fremantle, WA.

After a newspaper competition to name the kangaroo, the name ‘Ruey’ was chosen, despite confusion over it also being the nickname of one of the truck stop owners and various misspellings along the way. The Big Kangaroo has since settled into its name — ‘Rooey II’.

The Big Croc

The 20m long, 3m high concrete Big Croc takes centre stage in a park, greeting visitors as they enter this historic port town.

While this artwork is an eye-catching greeting into the town, it also serves as a warning to visitors, reminding them to be cautious of the local saltwater crocodiles in the waters of Wyndham.

The Big Galah (SA)

Located in Kimba, SA, the idea for this 8m grey-and-pink bird sculpture hatched during a family brainstorming session over dinner.
The Venning family, who owned a local gem shop, thought of creating the sculpture to attract travellers along the National Highway 1 to their store.

In 2021, the Big Galah received a facelift and is now brighter and more striking than ever.

The Big Funnel Web Spider

Holding the 2015 Guinness World Record for the largest spider sculpture, The Big Funnel Web Spider can be found at the exit of the Jamberoo Action Park, one of the largest water rides in Australia.
Measuring 19.7m high, the giant spider calls Australia home, but its steel, fibreglass and concrete parts were made in Malaysia.
The sculpture pays tribute to the funnel spider, a notorious spider species found in eastern Australia.

According to a study by the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Melbourne, the male of this species is one of Australia’s most dangerous spiders and is thought to have been responsible for many recorded deaths. It is capable of causing death in as little as 15 minutes, but no deaths have been recorded since the development of the antivenom in the early 1980s, the study states.

The Big Merino

A giant concrete statue of a merino next to a house.

The Big Merino is an iconic structure in Goulburn, NSW. Source: Getty / Marianna Massey/Corbis

Built in 1985, the 15.2m tall Big Merino is a tribute to the area’s fine wool industry and is modelled after Rambo, a stud ram that lived in a local property called ‘Bullamallita’.

An idea also initiated by the Mokany brothers, the Big Merino was originally placed near the Hume Highway but was later relocated 800m near the freeway interchange at a service station.

A gift shop, an exhibit on the history of wool in Australia and an observatory can be found inside the structure.

The Big Aboriginal Hunter

Also referred to as the ‘Anmatjere Man,’ the Big Aboriginal Hunter is located atop a hill in Anmatjere, a town 150km north of Alice Springs.
Standing 17m high, the statue — crafted by local sculptor Mark Egan — depicts a hunter from the Anmatjere tribe, the earliest settlers in the area.

Another big sculpture created by Egan of an Anmatjere woman, child and lizard can also be found in the area.

The Big Platypus

The northern town of Latrobe in Tasmania features the 3m long Big Platypus, located outside Axeman’s Hall of Fame.
Aside from being one of Australia’s most unique animals, the platypus calls the rivers of Latrobe home.

Latrobe is known as the platypus capital of the world, and many of these creatures reside under the bridge at Axeman’s Hall of Fame, the Mersey River, and the Warrawee Reserve.

Tyler Mitchell

By Tyler Mitchell

Tyler is a renowned journalist with years of experience covering a wide range of topics including politics, entertainment, and technology. His insightful analysis and compelling storytelling have made him a trusted source for breaking news and expert commentary.

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