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Five big Aussie things to visit

by Tina Liptai | 19 Mar 2015

Everyone’s heard of the Big Banana and the Big Pineapple, but did you know about the Big Mango that was stolen from its home in Queensland? Here are five big attractions to check out next time you’re on a road trip around the country.

 The Big Lobster

WHERE: Kingston, SA

SIZE: Height: 17 metres; Weight: 4 tonnes; Length: 15.2 metres; Width: 13.7 metres

HISTORY: The Big Lobster was built to promote the seafood, wine, cheese and timber industries in the south east region of South Australia. The idea for the structure came from a similar concept the Backler family of Kingston discovered in the USA in the mid-1970s.

Sections of the lobster were built in Adelaide and transported to Kingston, often bringing traffic on the highway to a stand still. The Big Lobster has an internal steel frame, which is coated with layers of styrofoam and fibreglass. It took approximately six months to build.

FUN FACT: The Big Lobster is affectionately known as Larry.

 The Big Koala

WHERE: Dadswells Bridge, Vic

SIZE: Height: 14 metres; Weight: 12 tonnes

HISTORY: The Giant Koala was the brainchild of Beryl Cowling, who owned the Koala Kitchen Motor Inn. The bridge is considered the gateway to the Grampians Ranges and the koala is known as the “Guardian of the Grampians”.

In 2009, the Big Koala was named Sam, in honour of the koala rescued during the infamous Black Saturday bushfires.

FUN FACT: The Giant Koala was selected as one of eight images of ‘Big Things’ in Australia to be featured on a special series of Redhead Matches packets.

 The Big Mango

WHERE: Bowen, Qld

SIZE: Height: 10 metres, Weight: 10 tonnes

HISTORY: The Big Mango represents the fruit which carries the name of the town. In the late 1880s, local farmer, Harry Lott, discovered a delicious, stringless type of fruit called Kensington. His mangoes sold well at local markets and soon they were widely grown in the region. The Australian Kensington Pride Mango is also called the Bowen Special.

FUN FACT: Last year, fast-food chain Nando’s stole the Big Mango one night as part of a PR stunt, attracting nationwide attention. It was later found behind the Bowen Tourist Information Centre.

The Big Merino

WHERE: Goulburn, NSW

SIZE: Height: 15 metres; Weight: 97 tonnes; Length: 18 metres

HISTORY: The Big Merino is a monument to Goulburn and the wool industry of the surrounding district. Nicknamed Rambo by locals, the Big Merino features a gift shop and an exhibition. When the Goulburn bypass was built, the expansion of the city meant Rambo, previously the centre of attention, was now stranded in no-man’s land, but in 2007, he was moved 800 metres down the road, and the greener pastures have given the structure a new lease on life.

FUN FACT: The Big Merino was modelled on a real ram called Rambo, a stud ram from local property, Bullamallita.

The Big Playable Guitar

WHERE: Narrandera, NSW

SIZE: Length: 5.82 metres; Height: 2 metres

HISTORY: The Big Playable Guitar was
made by Robert Palmer, a member of the Narrandera Country Music Association, as
a tribute to the group’s interest in country music. Played as a bass guitar, two people are required to play it due to its size, and anyone passing by is welcome to have a go.

FUN FACT: Barellan, a town not far from the guitar, is home to the Biggest Tennis Racquet.

Other big local attractions

  • The Big Watermelon, Wantirna South, Vic
  • The Big Mosquito, Hexham, NSW
  • The Big Stubbie, Larrimah, NT
  • The Big Barramundi, Daintree, Qld
  • The Big Wombat, Bookabie, SA
  • The Big Penguin, Penguin, Tas
  • The World’s Tallest Bin, Kalgoorlie, WA