Jan 27 2008
Big Things
The Big Things of Australia are a loosely related set of large structures or sculptures which represent much smaller objects that are linked with the local area.
Like the Big Banana, our first Big Thing. It was built in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, a lush place absolutely surrounded by bananas.
The Big Banana went up in 1964, but now there are over one hundred similar big objects around the country. Each one of these Big Things is individual and constructed without reference to any of the others, but together they are collectively known as, strangely enough, The Big Things.
To qualify as a Big Thing, a structure must be
- 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.
The Big Banana at Coffs Harbour NSW is now 40 years old, and probably the most photographed object in Australia after Uluru (a Big Rock).
The Big Banana doesn’t seem as big as the first time I saw it, but it’s still 11 metres long, 5 metres high, and 2.4 metres wide. It’s just that the surrounding developments have lessened its original impact. But there are plenty more Big Things. Coffs Harbour also has the Big Bunch of Bananas.
The Big Koala at Dadswell bridge on the Western Highway between Horsham and Stawell in Victoria.
The Big Merino is at the southern entrance to Goulburn in southern New South Wales.
The Big Apple. There are two Big Apples, one at Donnybrook, Victoria and the other at Thulimbah, Queensland.
The Big Blue Heeler at Musselbrook, New South Wales.
There are five Big Bottles, two Big Stubbys, three Big Cows and three Big Crocodiles, a Big Diplodocus and a Big Triceratops. Big Pumpkins, Big Strawberries, Big Cherries, Big Oranges, Big Potatoes, a Big Mango, a Big Pineapple and a Big Mushroom.
If seafood takes your fancy there is a Big Prawn, a Big Lobster, two Big Oysters, a Big Trout and all manner of other Big Fish.
You can’t miss the Big Ned Kelly.
There’s even a Big Gumboot. The golden gumboot was originally a rubber boot awarded to one of Australia’s three wettest towns - Tully, Babinda or Innisfail - depending on which had the most yearly rainfall. According to legend it became a two-horse race when Innisfail’s rainfall dropped out of contention around the time the rain gauge was moved from the vicinity of the public toilets.
When Tully’s Rotary Club decided to claim the gumboot permanently, Babinda, which has had more rainfall in recent years, responded with plans to build a giant umbrella.
I’ll keep you informed.
Like to shout me a cold beer?
