I’m a lumberjack and I’m okay
I sleep all night and visit Bigs all day!
Axe yourself this – how much excitement can you handle? If the answer is ‘plenty’, then swing by The Big Axe and get ready to chop till you drop!
A fixture of the exquisite Camden Haven district since 1979, the wonderful whacker celebrates the local timber industry, and rests happily beside the iKew Visitor Information Centre.
For decades The Big Axe was a welcome sight for holidaymakers travelling on the Pacific Highway between Sydney and Brisbane. During the school holidays, families would line up for photos with the icon, ice-creams in hand and smiles on faces. The trip away hadn’t really started until you’d seen that wonderful woodcutter.
The highway bypassed Kew in 2009, and these days there’s little more than a cluster of curious Big-thusiasts admiring the axe at any one time.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, however. It allows for a quieter, more intimate encounter with the axe. Far from the maddening crowds, one can truly appreciate the nostalgic charm of this classic piece of Australiana.
The towering tool was replaced in 2002 after famished termites did a real hatchet job on him, and rebuilt once again in 2017 by the clever – or should that be cleaver? – members of the Kendall Men’s Shed.
I’m sure the locals were Kew-ing up when the new version was unveiled!
The 800kg tomahawk now rests on supports that are axe-actly two metres shorter than the old ones, making happy snaps a little easier. Just make sure you’re looking sharp – because The Big Axe certainly is!
Careful with that axe, Bigs!
When the Bardot family swung by Kew in 2026, were elated to discover the Visitor Centre offers not one, not two, but three Big Axe magnets on sale. There’s also a range of Big Axe-related patches and stickers, available for a small fee.
Cheeky banter and priceless information for the ladies behind the counter is free, however!
The chop-ularity of the Big Axe has even led to a replica in Western Sydney, and another down in Tasmania. Alright, they’re not axe-actly the same, but they’re close enough.
The big road might’ve bypassed Kew years ago, this Big can be reached with a short detour on your way north towards The Big Koala Family and The Big Golden Dog, or south to The Big Oyster.
The volunteers at the Visitor Centre are always up for a chat, and the nearby park is a great place to stretch your legs, so make sure you don’t axe-dentally pass by this attraction!
