Australia's Big Things

The Big Things of Australia are a loosely related set of large structures or sculptures representing much smaller objects which pertain to the area in which they are located. Each one is individual and constructed without reference to any of the others, but together they have certain things in common and are collectively known as Australia's Big Things. For example, the first Big Thing was the Big Banana built in 1964 in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, but now there are over fifty similar objects around the country.

To qualify as a "Big Thing", a structure must obey the following "formula":

• At least twice the size of the object it represents.
• At least twice human size.
• Dominant and accessible.
• Lifelike quality of construction.
• Enterprising and/or locally representative.

The Big Things have become something of a cult phenomenon, and are sometimes used as an excuse for a road trip, where many or all Big Things are visited and used as a backdrop to a group photograph.

The ABC produced a documentary titled "Big Things" as part of its programme The Big Picture.

Contents

1 List of Big Things 1.1 Western Australia 1.2 South Australia 1.3 Victoria 1.4 Tasmania 1.5 New South Wales 1.6 A.C.T. 1.7 Queensland 1.8 Northern Territory 2 External links

List of Big Things

Western Australia

• The Big Crocodile, Wyndham - 3m x 18m
• The Big Banana, Carnarvon - 6m x 1m
• The Big Apple, Donnybrook - 7m x 4m
• The Big Ram, Wagin - 8m x 10m

South Australia

• The Big Galah, Kimba - 6m x 2m
• The Big Lobster, Kingston SE - 17m x 15m
• The Big Miner, Kapunda - 8m x 2m
• The Big Orange, Berri - 15m x 12m
• The Big Ram (male sheep), Karoonda 2 m x 3 m
• The Big Rocking horse, Gumeracha - 18m x 17m
• The Big Roo, Border Village - 5m x 2m
• The Big Scotsman, Medindie (Adelaide) - 5m x 1m
• The Big Winch, Coober Pedy - 8m x 5m

Victoria

• The Big Murray Cod, Swan Hill - 3m x 9m
• The Giant Ned Kelly, Glenrowan - 6m x 2m
• The Big Pheasant, Tynong - 8m x 17m
• The Big Worm, Bass - 250m x 4m
• The Big Woolbales, Hamilton - 3m x 12m
• The Giant Koala, Dadswells Bridge - 14m x 8m

Tasmania

• The Big Penguin, Penguin - 3m x 1m
• The Big Tasmanian Devil, Mole Creek - 2m x 3m

New South Wales

• The Big Wine Cask, Wentworth - 6m x 8m
• The Big Playable Guitar, Narrandera - 6m x 2m
• The Big Murray Cod, Tocumwal - 2m x 7m
• The Big Trout, Adaminaby - 10m x 3m
• The Big Merino, Goulburn - 15m x 18m
• The Big Cherries, Young - 2m x 4m
• The Big Gold Panner, Bathurst - 5m x 3m
• The Big Chook, Mt Vernon - 4m x 4m
• The Big Wine Bottle, Pokolbin (Hunter Valley) - 6m x 2m
• The Big Oyster, Taree - 4m x 12m
• The Big Bull, Wauchope - 14m x 21m
• The Big Golden Guitar, Tamworth - 12m x 4m
• The Big Banana, Coffs Harbour - 11m x 2m
• The Big Prawn, Ballina - 6m x 9m
• The Big Potato, Robertson
• The Big Mosquito, Hexham

A.C.T.

• The Big Mushroom, Belconnen - 4m x 8m

Queensland

• The Big Barramundi, Normanton - 6m x 2m
• The Big Barramundi, Daintree - 6m x 2m
• The Big Captain Cook, Cairns - 7m x 2m
• The Big Dinosaur, Ballandean
• The Big Marlin, Cairns - 8m x 2m
• The Big Cassowary, Mission Beach - 5m x 5m
• The Big Gumboot, Tully - 8m x 6m
• The Big Mango, Bowen - 12m x 8m
• The Big Rum Bottle, Bundaberg - 6m x 1m
• The Big Mandarin, Mundubbera - 11m x 15m
• The Big Ned Kelly, Maryborough - 8m x 2m
• The Big Shell, Tewantin - 3m x 1m
• The Big Stubby, Tewantin - 9m x 4m
• The Big Cow, Nambour - 6m x 10m
• The Big Pineapple, Nambour - 16m x 6m
• The Big Macadamia nut, Nambour - 5m x 10m
• The Big Redback, Brisbane - 3m x 3m
• The Big Hard Rock Guitar, Surfer's Paradise - 10m x 3m
• The Big Apple, Stanthorpe - 4m x 3m

Northern Territory

• The Big Boxing Crocodile, Humpty Doo - 8m x 8m
• The Big Stockwhip, Acacia - 7m x 10m

External links

• ABC Online - Friends, Family and Big Things - photographs of Australian Big Things, including lesser known examples
• - Glenn Industries - the company responsible for building many Big Things
• - Accommodation - to see the big things!

See also: Australia's Big Things, 1964, Adelaide, Australia, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Ballina, New South Wales, Barramundi, Bathurst, New South Wales, Berri, South Australia, Big Banana