Damon Mcknight
Australia is home to many quirky oversized structures, one of which is the Big Prawn in Ballina, New South Wales. This giant crustacean, standing at 9 metres high and weighing 35 tonnes, is one of Australia's most famous Big Things. It was built in 1989 as an ode to the local prawning industry and has since become an iconic roadside attraction, drawing holidaymakers from all over the world to the town of Ballina.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | The Big Prawn |
| Location | Outside a Bunnings Warehouse in West Ballina, Australia |
| Height | 27 metres or 9 metres |
| Weight | 40 tonnes or 35 tonnes |
| Year of Construction | 1989 |
| Year of Renovation | 2013 |
| Cost of Renovation | AUD 400,000 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Big Prawn in Ballina, NSW, is one of Australia's most famous Big Things
- The prawn is 27 metres tall and weighs 40 tonnes
- It was built in 1989 as an ode to the local prawning industry
- The giant crustacean was almost demolished in 2009
- Hardware store Bunnings rescued the structure, giving it a new home and tail
The Big Prawn in Ballina, NSW, is one of Australia's most famous Big Things
The Big Prawn in Ballina, New South Wales, is one of Australia's most famous Big Things. It is a 9-metre-tall prawn statue, weighing 35 tonnes (some sources state 40 tonnes), and is one of Australia's many quirky oversized structures. It is one of the most famous roadside attractions in the world and is considered a must-see when visiting Ballina.
The Big Prawn was constructed in 1989 as an ode to the local prawning industry. It was financed by Attila and Louis Mokany, who also financed Goulburn's Merino and Taree's Oyster, and designed by South Australian sculptor James Martin. The statue was originally built without a tail, which was added in 2013 after the Big Prawn was relocated to outside a Bunnings Warehouse, a hardware store, following the closure of the service station it was built on in 2010. The giant crustacean was saved from demolition in 2009 due to public outcry and the intervention of a private investor.
The Big Prawn is available for public viewing at all hours of the day and night, and visitors are encouraged to take photos. There are also several seafood restaurants located nearby.
The Big Prawn has undergone a remarkable transformation, with a new design that includes a magnificent tail. While visitors can no longer walk inside the statue, as they could when it was first built, the celebration in Ballina upon the announcement of its rescue and redesign was a testament to the community's love for this king-sized crustacean.
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The prawn is 27 metres tall and weighs 40 tonnes
The Big Prawn in Ballina, NSW, Australia, is a supersized statue of a crustacean that stands at 27 metres tall and weighs 40 tonnes. It is one of Australia's most famous "Big Things" and celebrated roadside attractions. The prawn was constructed in 1989 as an ode to the local prawning industry and is designed to be 30,000 times the size of a normal shrimp.
The statue was originally built on West Ballina's transit centre, which was positioned on the main highway that passed through town. It was designed by South Australian sculptor James Martin and financed by Attila and Louis Mokany, the gurus behind other "Big Things" in Australia. The Big Prawn initially lacked a tail, and its bottom half rested on top of a service station.
Over time, the service station closed, and the statue fell into disrepair. In 2013, hardware store Bunnings, which was located next door, stepped in to save the statue from potential demolition. They purchased the statue for AUD 400,000, gave it a fresh coat of paint, and relocated it to a new warehouse near the original Big Pineapple. For the first time, the statue was given a proper tail, bringing it to its current height and weight.
Today, the Big Prawn stands as an iconic landmark in Ballina, attracting visitors who pose for photos with the giant crustacean. It is a must-see attraction when visiting the town and a testament to the community's dedication to preserving their local heritage.
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It was built in 1989 as an ode to the local prawning industry
The Big Prawn in Ballina, New South Wales, Australia, was built in 1989 as an ode to the local prawning industry. It is one of Australia's most famous "Big Things" and celebrated roadside attractions. The prawn stands at 27 metres tall and weighs 40 tonnes, which is 30,000 times the size of a normal shrimp. It was financed by Attila and Louis Mokany and designed by South Australian sculptor James Martin.
The giant crustacean was originally constructed on West Ballina's transit centre, which was positioned on the main highway that passed through town. In 2010, the service station next to the prawn was closed, and the structure fell into disrepair. The Ballina council voted to approve the prawn's demolition, but it was saved due to public outcry and a private investor. The statue was then relocated to outside a Bunnings Warehouse hardware store, where it stands today.
In 2013, the prawn underwent a AUD 400,000 makeover, where it was repainted and given a tail for the first time. The new design was well-received by the community, who were glad to see the mega mollusc back and better than ever. The Big Prawn is now available for public viewing at all hours of the day and night and is a popular spot for holidaymakers to take photos.
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The giant crustacean was almost demolished in 2009
The Big Prawn in West Ballina, Australia, is a giant statue of a crustacean. At 27 metres tall and weighing 40 tonnes, it is 30,000 times the size of a normal shrimp. The Big Prawn was built in 1989 as an ode to the local prawning industry. It was originally constructed without a tail, which was added in 2013. The giant crustacean was almost demolished in 2009.
The Ballina council initially voted to approve the prawn's demolition after years of disrepair and the construction of a bypass that rerouted highway traffic away from the site. However, the community of West Ballina banded together to save the statue. The supersized sea creature was eventually rescued by a private investor, who paid $400,000 to relocate it to a new warehouse near the original Big Pineapple. The statue was also repainted and given a proper tail, which it lacked in its original design.
The Big Prawn is now one of Australia's most famous roadside attractions. It was designed by South Australian sculptor James Martin and financed by Attila and Louis Mokany, the duo behind other famous "Big Things" in Australia, such as the Big Merino in Goulburn and the Big Oyster in Taree. The prawn is an impressive structure that has become a beloved fixture in the town of Ballina.
The statue is an excellent example of how communities can come together to preserve their local heritage and unique landmarks. The Big Prawn has become a source of pride for the people of West Ballina and a testament to the importance of public art and its ability to inspire and bring people together. It stands as a reminder that sometimes, things that are a little quirky and unusual can become beloved and iconic parts of a community's identity.
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Hardware store Bunnings rescued the structure, giving it a new home and tail
The Big Prawn in Ballina, NSW, Australia, is one of the most famous roadside attractions in the world. Standing at 27 metres tall and weighing 40 tonnes, it is a supersized sea creature constructed in 1989 to honour the local prawning industry.
The prawn was initially built on West Ballina's transit centre, which was located on the main highway that passed through the town. However, after the construction of a bypass rerouted highway traffic, the Ballina council voted to demolish the prawn in 2009. The community of West Ballina banded together to save the statue, and a private investor came to its rescue. In 2013, additional work was done to give the prawn a proper tail, as it originally lacked one.
Unfortunately, disaster struck again when the prawn's service station was shuttered in 2010, leaving him neglected and in disrepair. His paint faded, and he began to rot, leading some to call him an eyesore. Thankfully, hardware store Bunnings Warehouse stepped in to rescue the prawn once more. Bunnings bought the prawn with the intention of relocating it to their new warehouse near the original Big Pineapple. They planned to repaint it and, most notably, finally give it a tail.
The new design was well-received by the community of Ballina, who celebrated the king-sized crustacean's new home and tail. The giant prawn now stands outside the Bunnings Warehouse, where it continues to be a beloved and quirky part of Australia's collection of oversized structures.
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Frequently asked questions
The Big Prawn is located in Ballina, NSW, Australia.
The Big Prawn stands at 9 metres high and weighs 35 tonnes. It is 30,000 times the size of a normal shrimp.
The Big Prawn was built in 1989.
The Big Prawn was designed by South Australian sculptor James Martin.
The Big Prawn was constructed as an ode to the local prawning industry.
