Leslie Massey
Australia is known for its Big Things, a loose collection of over 150 (some sources state just over 1075) large sculptures and novelty architecture found across the country. These Big Things have become iconic landmarks and a draw for tourists, with some recognised as works of folk art and listed for heritage protection. The Big Things are often representations of everyday objects or animals, sometimes with a connection to the region's history or industry, such as the Big Wine Bottle in Rutherglen, VIC, or the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour, NSW.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of "Big Things" in Australia | Over 150 |
| First "Big Thing" | Big Banana in Coffs Harbour, NSW |
| Other Examples | Big Prawn, Big Pineapple, Big Merino, Big Wine Bottle, Big Playable Guitar, Big Penguin, Big Bundy Bottle of Rum, Big Murray Cod, Big Miner, Big Ned Kelly, Big Lobster, Big Bull, Big Bed, Big Kookaburra, Big Orange, Big Mango, Big Dice, Big Melon, Big Potato, Big Bench, Big Bogan, Big Scotsman, Big Tennis Racquet, Big Dunny, Big Bowl, Big Pie |
| Reason for "Big Things" | Tourist attractions, business promotion, lure road trippers off the highways |
| Locations | Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Australian Capital Territory |
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What You'll Learn
The history of Australia's 'big things'
Australia's "Big Things" are a collection of oversized sculptures and statues scattered throughout the country. There are currently over 150 of these Big Things, and they have been a part of Australian culture since the 1960s. While some Australians embrace these quirky landmarks, others criticise them as kitschy or tacky.
The trend of building Big Things in Australia began in the 1960s, with the earliest known example being the "Big Scotsman" outside Scotty's Motel in Adelaide, built in 1963. However, the trend truly took off with the construction of the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour, NSW, in 1964. Entrepreneur John Landi built the Big Banana to attract visitors to his roadside banana stall, and its success inspired other communities to create their own oversized landmarks. Many of these sculptures were built to promote local industries, such as the Big Pineapple in Woombye, QLD, which was built in 1971 and features a restaurant, a zoo, and train rides. Other examples include the Big Potato in Robertson, NSW, built in 1977 to honour one of the area's main crops, and the Big Wine Bottle in Rutherglen, VIC, which was originally a water tower until locals added a mesh top to transform it into a 36-metre-tall wine bottle in 1969.
Over time, the trend of building Big Things in Australia continued to grow, with new sculptures popping up all over the country. Some of these sculptures are designed to be cheesy and attention-grabbing, such as the Big Bogan in Nyngan, NSW, which was erected in 2015 despite mixed reactions from the community. Other sculptures have become beloved township icons, such as the Big Merino in Goulburn, NSW, which stands at 15.2 metres high and weighs 97 tonnes.
In recent years, there has been a revival of interest in Big Things due to the Covid pandemic, which led to an increase in travel around rural Australia. Regional towns, local councils, and businesses are now using Big Things as a way to attract and retain visitors, ensuring that these oversized landmarks will continue to be a unique part of Australian culture for years to come.
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The biggest 'big things'
Australia has over 150 "big things" scattered across the country. These include novelty architecture and sculptures, some of which are considered works of folk art. Many of these "big things" are representations of everyday objects or animals. Here are some of the biggest "big things" in Australia:
The Big Banana
The Big Banana in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, is one of Australia's oldest "big things", constructed in 1964 by entrepreneur John Landi. It was built to attract visitors to a roadside banana stand and now houses an amusement park with waterslides, mini-golf, arcade games, and more. The Big Banana is so iconic that it is often credited as being the first "big thing" in Australia, although it was likely predated by the "Big Scotsman" outside Scotty's Motel in Adelaide.
The Big Pineapple
The Big Pineapple in Woombye, Queensland, stands at 16 metres tall and has been a popular attraction since 1971. It offers various facilities, including train rides, a restaurant, and a zoo.
The Big Merino
The Big Merino in Goulburn, New South Wales, is a 15.2-metre-tall and 97-tonne sculpture that celebrates the region's wool industry. It has become an iconic landmark and is often included in lists of Australia's "big things."
The Big Wine Bottle
The Big Wine Bottle in Rutherglen, Victoria, is a 36-metre-tall structure that was originally a water tower. In 1969, locals added a mesh top to transform it into a giant wine bottle, celebrating the region's wine culture.
The Big Lobster
The Big Lobster in Kingston, South Australia, is another well-known "big thing." While its exact dimensions are unclear, it is reportedly the result of a mix-up where the original measurements in feet and inches were mistakenly marked in metres, leading to its enormous size.
The Big Potato
The Big Potato in Robertson, New South Wales, was built in 1977 by a potato farmer to honour one of the area's main crops. While some may find its shape vaguely faecal, it is a unique monument that has become part of Australia's collection of "big things."
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'Big things' in New South Wales
Australia is home to over 150 "big things", with more than 60 of them in New South Wales (NSW) alone. These supersized sculptures are often representations of everyday objects, animals, or food items.
One of the most famous "big things" in NSW is the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour, which is considered the first "big thing" in Australia. Built in 1964 by entrepreneur John Landi, it stands as a promotional sign for his banana stall. The Big Banana is not just a photo opportunity, but also houses an action-packed fun park with waterslides, toboggan, laser tag, and mini-golf.
Another beloved "big thing" in NSW is the Big Merino in Goulburn, a 15.2-metre-high statue weighing 97 tonnes. Affectionately nicknamed "Rambo" by the locals, it was erected in 1985 to honour Australia's wool industry. The Big Merino is so iconic that it was featured on an Australian 50-cent stamp in 2007.
In the village of Robertson, nestled in the Southern Highlands of NSW, visitors can find the Big Potato. This colossal creation was built by local potato grower Jim Mauger in 1977 to honour the area's main crop. The Big Potato is approximately 10 metres long and 4 metres wide, and visitors can even step inside to explore its hollow interior.
For those looking for a musical experience, the Big Playable Guitar in Narrandera, located within the local visitor information centre, invites visitors to strum a tune. Tennis fans can also admire the Big Tennis Racquet in Barellan, an exact 20:1 scale model of tennis star Evonne Goolagong Cawley's signature wooden Dunlop racquet.
Other notable "big things" in NSW include the Big Crocodile at the Australian Reptile Park in Somersby, the Big Oyster in Taree, the Big Kookaburra in Kurri Kurri, and the Big Bogan in Nyngan.
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'Big things' as tourist attractions
Australia is home to more than 150 "big things", huge outdoor novelty sculptures scattered across the country. These big things have been a part of Australian culture since the 1960s, with some acting as tourist traps found along major roads between destinations. They are often representations of everyday objects, animals, or items of local significance.
The "Big Banana" in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, is often credited as the first big thing in Australia. Built in 1964 by entrepreneur John Landi, it was constructed to attract visitors to his roadside banana stall. The Big Banana has now become an amusement park with waterslides, mini-golf, arcade games, and more.
The success of the Big Banana inspired other communities to create their own oversized landmarks, leading to the proliferation of big things throughout Australia. Some other well-known big things include the Big Pineapple in Woombye, Queensland; the Big Merino in Goulburn, New South Wales; the Big Wine Bottle in Rutherglen, Victoria; and the Big Lobster in Kingston, South Australia.
The Big Things have become a cult phenomenon, with some people even planning road trips specifically to visit and photograph these quirky attractions. They have also been featured in popular culture, such as in the London production of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: the Musical and the Australian comedy film Young Einstein.
While some people embrace these big things as fun and quirky landmarks, others argue that they are kitschy or tacky. Nonetheless, they have become iconic township attractions, with new Big Things continuing to appear across Australia.
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'Big things' in popular culture
Australia's "Big Things" are large structures, some of which are novelty architecture and some are sculptures. These big things have become iconic landmarks scattered throughout the country. They have evolved from their original purpose as tourist traps along major roads to beloved symbols of Australian culture.
The influence of Australia's Big Things extends beyond the country's borders. These unique structures have inspired the creation of oversized sculptures and replicas in other parts of the world. For example, the London production of "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: The Musical" references several Big Things, including the Big Prawn, Big Merino, Big Pineapple, and Big Banana. The National Museum in Canberra also has a comprehensive multimedia exhibit displaying many of these big things.
In 2023, the Royal Australian Mint released a set of commemorative $1 coins featuring ten of the "Big Things". Additionally, five of the sculptures were featured on Australian $1.20 stamps that year. Australian confectionery brand Allen's released a gummy lolly mix called "Big Aussie Road Trip" in 2022, with five gummy sweets inspired by the Big Things.
Some of the most iconic Big Things include the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour, which is home to an amusement park with waterslides, mini-golf, and arcade games. The Big Pineapple on the Sunshine Coast is another famous example, attracting over 1 million visitors annually at its peak. The Big Merino in Goulburn, weighing 100 tonnes, is open for inspection and houses a permanent exhibition on the 200-year history of wool in Australia. Other notable mentions are the Big Galah in Kimba, the Big Orange in Dadswells, and the Big Melon in Robertson.
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Frequently asked questions
There are over 150 "big things" scattered throughout Australia.
Some examples of "big things" in Australia include the Big Banana, Big Pineapple, Big Merino, Big Wine Bottle, Big Playable Guitar, Big Penguin, Big Mango, Big Orange, and Big Lobster.
The reason behind Australia's abundance of "big things" is unknown, but it is believed that they started as a way to attract tourists and lure road trippers off the highways.
Yes, in addition to sculptures, there are also novelty architecture "big things" in Australia, such as the Big Wine Bottle, which is a water tower with a mesh top added to resemble a wine bottle.
