Let me tell you of an interview with The Real Big EmuHe’s one of the most gorgeous Big Things, but the poor old fella ain’t got no wingsAren’t you jealous of The Big Wedge-Tailed Eagle? – dom ba da little da da da “While the eagle’s design is very sound, I keep my two feet firmly on the groundI can’t fly, but I’m telling you, … Continue reading The Big Emus, Strathfieldsaye, VIC
Listen up, pardner. If you’re planning to pinch a caravan from Airdrie, north of Calgary, think again. Western Wayne, a 30-foot cowboy with a huge hat and a mean disposition, guards the Western RV caravan shop… and this Big shoots first and asks questions later! Wearing a tough-guy snarl reminiscent of a young Sam Elliott, Wayne’s towered over Alberta’s desolate prairies for decades. He’s impossible … Continue reading Western Wayne, Airdrie, Alberta
I believe I can flyI believe I can kiss this big guyI think about Big Blue every night and dayHis handsome wings take my breath awayI believe he wants moreCuddlin’ each other till we’re both soreI believe I can flyI believe Big Blue’s all mineI believe he’s my guy (wooooooo) The words of urban visionary R-Kelly resonate with visitors to The Big Blue-Faced Honeyeater, who … Continue reading The Big Honeyeater, Logan Reserve, QLD
Feeling famished on the long trip between Brisbane and the Gold Coast? Then bake a stop in Yatala for the best snacks money can pie. The pastries from world famous Yatala Pies receive g-rave-y reviews and are truly to pie for! This crust-see attraction is easy to spot – just keep a pie out for the super-sized snack out the front, which sits atop a … Continue reading The Big Pie, Yatala, QLD
Do you have a viper-active child with heaps of ser-pent-up energy? Want to put a great big reptile on their face? Maybe you’re just after a quiet spot to sit and enjoy a meat pie-thon? Then give the Big Red Belly a try-pan! Located in sprawling Gibirrngaan Park within Maudsland’s exclusive Huntington Estates (which, sadly, doesn’t offer anaconda-miniums), the Big Red Bellied Black Snake is … Continue reading The Big Red Belly, Maudsland, QLD
Many a tourist has left their heart in San Francisco, so of course there’s a Big Thing dedicated to love and romance right next to the Bay Bridge. Created by lovers Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen in 2002 and measuring an un-bow-lievable 18 metres from tip to amorous tip, Cupid’s Span quickly surpassed the Golden Gate Bridge as the bay city’s most photographed landmark. … Continue reading Cupid’s Span, San Francisco, California
We are familyI got all my koalas with meWe are familyGet up to Port Mac for this Big Thing Good things come in threes… or should I say Big Things come in TREES! Either way, this trio of torpid titans are the perfect embodiment of the modern euc-lear family. The Big Koala Family stand a grand total of eight metres tall and take pride of … Continue reading The Big Koala Family, Port Macquarie, NSW
H2-oh-my-gawd-it’s-awesome! The mesh-merizing Big Drip stands a pants-wetting 4.5 metres tall and can be found by the banks of the mouthwatering Cowarra Dam. The Drip made a splash when she was unveiled to a curious public in 2005, and has been making waves in the community ever since. Designed by aqueous artiste Peter Allison and crafted from rainless steel, the Drip is one of the … Continue reading The Drip, Cowarra, NSW
This 1/40th scale Ayers Rock was, by most measures, a full-scale failure. Poorly constructed and awkwardly located, the undersized Uluru was designed to offer an authentic outback experience, but instead presented an insight into the dark underbelly of Big Thing culture. The Rock fell into disrepair shortly after construction in the early ’90s, becoming the butt of jokes for generations of travellers along the Pacific … Continue reading The Rock, North Arm Cove, NSW
“The Big Octopus’s Garden” I’d like to beRight by the seaIn the Big Octopus’s gardenWearing suede He’d let me inTo see his collectionOf shells and coral and evenA model railway I’d ask my friendsTo come and seeThe Griffith’s Sea Shell MuseumWith me I’d like to danceThrough Lakes EntranceTo the Big Octopus’s gardenWithout my pants His cuddles have charmsBecause he has eight armsAfter admiring him for … Continue reading The Big Octopus, Lakes Entrance, Vic
Please welcome the flag waving, money saving, always smiling, quite beguiling, 18-foot-high, super-nice guy… Ernie the Giant Tractor Salesman! This gregarious goliath has been Shepparton’s most eligible bachelor for more than three decades, and currently works at the family-owned Konigs Agricultural Supermarket. The eternally-eleemosynary Ernie started work way back in 1992, and is yet to miss a day! He’s polite, kind and never shies away … Continue reading Ernie, Shepparton, Vic
Brussels sprouts; two words that strike fear into the hearts of children. The bitter, chartreuse vegetables have been responsible for countless dinnertime meltdowns and turned generations of youngsters off their greens for life. But one gentleman has risen up against the hatred, with a cheeky smile and a zealous thumbs-up as his only weapons. Arthur Sprout, who stands sentinel in front of Adams Farms, has … Continue reading Arthur Sprout, Coldstream, Vic
Should you visit Rutherglen’s Big Wine Bottle? Wine not! This 36-metre-tall flagon is a real corker, so it stands to riesling that you should make a chardo-day of it and head to Victoria’s premier wine-growing region. The Big Bottle looms large over Rutherglen, and can be seen from most of the town’s leafy streets and verdant parks. It casts an imposing figure, with its mixture … Continue reading Rutherglen Wine Bottle, Rutherglen, VIC
He’s more than just a Big BatHe’s the source of Coota’s prideHe’s more than just one Big ThingHe has some stumps by his sideFathers take their sons to Bradman’s Bat ’cause they find it’s really, really grand! The rustic regional village of Cootamundra has plenty to be proud of, but the locals hold cricket legend Don Bradman closer to their hearts than anything else. And … Continue reading Bradman’s Bat, Cootamundra, NSW
Fee-fi-fo-fumLook at me with my massive chumHe be large and he be hairyBut the Coota Giant is never scary! Now THIS is a Giant worth climbing up a beanstalk for! The Cootamundra Giant is enormous, approachable, fun to take a photo with… and, best of all, he won’t try to gobble you up! But this big boy has a story even larger than his smile, … Continue reading The Giant, Cootamundra, NSW
He might be the Hindu God of War, but Lord Murugan just wants to win the battle for your heart. This tall, dark and handsome gentleman is 42.7 metres from fetching feet to friendly forehead, and can be found in front of the world-renowned Batu Caves. Murugan is the tallest statue of a Hindu deity in Malaysia, the third-tallest Hindu on Earth, and the biggest … Continue reading Lord Murugan, Batu Caves, Malaysia
When I heard rumours of a giant bicycle rolling through the verdant hills of Lac d’Annecy, I contacted someone who knows a thing or two about riding around the Alps – former Tour de France champion Cadel Evans. ‘Cuddles’ is a self-confessed Big Thing tragic and became a professional cyclist to finance a trip to the Big Oyster, so he was only too happy to … Continue reading Le Grand Velo, lac d’Annecy, France
Yo, yo, yo! Put your hands in the air like you just don’t care about anything other than Big Things! This is Fatboy Big in da house… or, more precisely, betwixt the Big Headphones! Should you hip hop long to see these merry music-makers? Tune in to find out! Looming loud and proud in the Beats-ing heart of Newcastle, it’ll come as music to your … Continue reading The Big Headphones, Newcastle, NSW
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The World Trade Center. Nambour’s Big Pineapple. Time has claimed many of mankind’s greatest achievements, and it’s with a heavy heart that I add one more wonder to this sombre list; the Big Boomerang. This curved cutie welcomed visitors to the Murrook Cultural Centre for many years, and was taken down in late-2018 due to renovations. The owners promised his … Continue reading The Big Boomerang, Williamtown, NSW
The Big Doc Martens make for a socking sight in the middle of Newcastle, and I certainly wouldn’t like to bump into the miscreant large enough to wear them! Their punk rock swagger and detailed feet-ures are more than enough to earn my heel of approval. These hedonistic headkickers live outside the Famous Rock Shop, which is overflowing with leather jackets and vinyl records from … Continue reading The Big Doc Martens, Newcastle, NSW
Koalas aren’t endangered in scenic Port Stephens, with a pair of massive marsupials lazing about beside the main road into town. The Big Koalas fiercely guard the entrance to Oakvale Wildlife Park, where visitors kan kuddle a kangaroo or kiss an ekidna. All those animals are regular-sized, though, so who cares. Known as Blinky and Bill, these silver studs are around 150 centimetres tall. Not … Continue reading The Big Koalas, Salt Ash, NSW
He’s supple, shiny and perfectly proportioned – but enough about the inimitable Bigs Bardot! We’re here to talk about the scrumptious Big Apple of Darkes Forest. Whilst he’s not the biggest of the many apples south of Sydney – that honour goes to the Tallong Apple – this red delicious is a real man of the people. He’s super close to the ground and perfectly … Continue reading The Big Apple, Darkes Forest, NSW
Please rise for Her Royal Wetness, Queany the Platypus! The 500kg mammalian monarch rests regally by the Queanbeyan River, ruling the hearts of locals with a strong yet webbed fist. Queany is the crowning achievement of Neil Dickinson and ascended to the throne in 2016. She was designed to put Queanbeyan – which has long stood in Canberra’s shadow – on the map. She’s certainly … Continue reading Queany the Platypus, Queanbeyan, NSW
Hey gang, I have some bad news. I’ve been shrunk down to a fraction of my normal height! Just look at me sitting here on a normal, regular-sized chair. Tee-hee, only kidding! I’m still as Big as I always was, it’s just that I’m perched upon the immense Googong Giant Chair. Although I must say that being smaller would have its perks, such as Big … Continue reading The Googong Giant Chair, Googong, NSW
Don’t be sluggish if you want to see the world’s largest snail, just escar-go to beautiful Queanbeyan. There you’ll find shy, reclusive Morty hiding in the town’s sensory garden. And despite his relaxed demeanour, he’s fast becoming a local legend! Artist Neil Dickinson has worked wonders on this sheepish slowpoke. Morty’s handsome head is quirky and exotic, yet cheerful and comforting. He is at once … Continue reading Morty the Snail, Queanbeyan, NSW
Alright, stop your hooting! Let’s get the obvious out of the way – the Big Powerful Owl looks more like the Big Powerful Male Appendage. But don’t let that scare you away from this eight-metre avian, who was erected in 2011. The Owl was pumped out by Bruce Armstrong and cast from steel, hard wood and lots of nuts, based on a design doodled on … Continue reading The Big Powerful Owl, Belconnen, NSW
I’m a handsome teapotThere’s no doubtHere is my handle, here is my spoutWhen I find a Big ThingThen I shoutStop the car and let me out! Although I’m not one to spill the tea, I must say that this ‘pot is really brew-tiful! You can find her in front of Bygone Beautys, which houses the world’s largest private teapot collection. There are more than 5,500 … Continue reading The Big Teapot, Leura, NSW
For a ’room with a view, you can’t beat this monstrous mushie! She sprouted up beside the Belconnen Fresh Food Market in 1998, with a well-appointed playground beneath her colossal cap. Just be warned that, with so many slippery dips and see-saws, there’s not mushroom inside for adults. With a diameter of almost 16 metres, the Giant Mushroom is the grandest Big Thing in the … Continue reading The Giant Mushroom, Belconnen, ACT
Everything’s going pear-shaped in the nation’s capital, and that’s just how they like it! Please welcome this incom-pear-able bunch. Officially known as Pear (version No.2) despite there being seven of the fruity fellows, they were created by George Baldessin in 1973. The Pears rest enticingly at the entrance to the National Gallery of Australia, and appear to be scattered around as if as if displayed … Continue reading The Big Pears, Parkes, ACT
Oh don’t mind me, I’m just hanging out with my good mate Fiddy Cent. No, not the hip hop luminary, which is a good thing because I don’t need to get into another gang turf war. I’m talking about the Big Coins, who currency live outside the Royal Australian Mint. The Coins certainly offer bang for your buck, because there are eight of them. The … Continue reading The Big Coins, Deakin, ACT
You’ll be drawn to these winged wonders like a moth to a flame! The Big Bogong Moths rest peacefully beside the Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. Based on a design by indigenous artiste Jim Williams, and crafted by Matthew Harding, they celebrate the history of the local Ngunnawal people. No, no, no, the Ngunnawal aren’t some sort of human-moth hybrid tribe, … Continue reading The Big Bogong Moths, Acton, ACT
Crumb one, crumb all to see a true work of tart – the Bilpin Apple Pie! The sweet treat rests on the back of an old truck, a few kilometres north of the sleepy township of Bilpin. He’s certainly not a short crust, in fact he’s quite tall! My encounter with this homemade hottie proved to be a pie-opening experience. The round rascal is certainly … Continue reading The Bilpin Apple Pie, Bilpin, NSW
2B or not 2B, that is the question. And the answer, of course, is not 2B, as the perky Pencil is clearly an HB, the most princely on the graphite grading scale. Positioned beneath the jaw-droppingly beautiful Nobbys Lighthouse along Newcastle’s eastern beaches, he doubles as a seat from which to enjoy this glorious part of the world. Despite what you may think, the area’s … Continue reading The Big Pencil, Newcastle, NSW
For more than a decade, the far-flung village of Narrandera was the centre of the Big Thing universe. As home to the World’s Largest Playable Guitar – a 5.82m-long acoustic axe that fascinated music lovers and Thing-o-philes alike – the region’s economy boomed. Then the unthinkable happened, and it all came crashing down. This is the story of how the music almost died. Looking to … Continue reading The Big Playable Guitar, Narrandera, NSW
A word of warning, this Big is a real gold digger! Tall, dark and handsome, the Big Gold Panner Man sauntered into the historic inland city of Bathurst in 1979, taking up residence outside the lavish Gold Panner Motor Inn. He welcomes millions of visitors from Sydney each year, many of whom can barely pan-dle their excitement. Not surprisingly, he’s become by far the most … Continue reading The Big Gold Panner Man, Bathurst, NSW
Some think he looks more like a Poo-tato than a Potato, but I reckon he’s a real spud-muffin! The 10-metre-wide, four-metre-tall Big Potato was carefully crafted in 1977 by local farmer Jim Mauger, and stands in starch contrast to the rural village of Robertson that houses him. Modelled after the delicious Sebago variety of spud, the beguiling Big Potato was designed to house a vegetable … Continue reading The Big Potato, Robertson, NSW
For an unforgetta-bull experience, head to Rocky, where you’ll find multi-bull bulky bovines on display. All six Big Bulls have moo-vie star good looks and would love to meat you, so it’d be a mi-steak to miss them! The first two Bulls – a Braford by the Bruce Highway and a Brahman located on the main median strip in town – were con-chuck-ted in 1978 … Continue reading The Big Bulls, Rockhampton, QLD
Never smile at Daryl the CrocodileNo, don’t get friendly with Daryl the CrocodileDon’t be taken in by his games and larkOr the fact he lives at the Aussie Reptile Park Never smile at Daryl the CrocodileNever kiss his handsome head and stop to talk awhileNever listen to his hopes and dreamsOf gobbling up six football teams You may very well lose your bodyJust up the … Continue reading Daryl Somersby the Croc, Somersby, NSW
You can’t pan-dle the truth! Actually, you probably can, because it’s an indisputable fact that the Big Gold Pick and Pan are ri-pick-ulously magnificent! The cheerful chums were built by another legendary pair – Peter Mason and Tony Durham – under the supervision of the Grenfell Men’s Shed, in recognition of Grenfell’s history as a gold town. But first, a confession. When I was told … Continue reading The Big Gold Pick and Pan, Grenfell, NSW
Victorian bushranger Ned Kelly is known for his handsome beard, wacky armour, and penchant for ruthlessly slaughtering innocent people. He is not, however, known for taking relaxing holidays in sunny Queensland. So how did this seven-metre-tall tribute end up in Maryborough? Your fearless reporter, Bigs Bardot, headed to the scene to find out! My quest for the truth started by asking Ned himself, but the … Continue reading The Big Ned Kelly, Maryborough, QLD
Have you heifer herd the udder-ly moo-diculous story about the two-story cow who become a Sunshine Coast icon, fell into a life of depravity, climbed out of the gutter to become a leader of the lost, and eventually retired to a leafy farm near beautiful Toowoomba? Yeah, I know it sounds like a load of bull, but be-hoove yourself because it’s true! The Big Cow … Continue reading The Big Cow, Highfields, QLD
The Southern Highlands of New South Wales has Big Things apple-nty, but none are as scrumptious as this crimson cutie! The Big Apple is of epic proportions, astonishingly detailed – just look at his hyper-realistic leaf – and always in season! Tallong legend Jim ‘The Apple Man’ Watling set the peels in motion in 1988. He commissioned a chap named Carl Zeschke to build a … Continue reading The Big Apple, Tallong, NSW
Put the Mortein away, he’s friendly! Ossie the Mossie watches vigilantly over the much-loved Hexham Bowling Club, and after giving him a good insect-ion I’m pleased to report that he certainly doesn’t suck! Hexham Grey mosquitos have long been the bowlo’s symbol, so in 1994 members cobbled together $17,200 to build a personable pest of epic proportions. Basing his design on an oversized chicken displayed … Continue reading Ossie the Mossie, Hexham, NSW
Roll out the red carpet, because we’re in the company of some Hollywood bad boys… Ribbet Redford and Dennis Hopper! The amphibian actors squat smugly out the front of the salubrious Ramada Suites, just a hop, skip and jump from Darwin’s waterfront. Ribbet and Dennis spawned at the humorously-named Get Stoned Masonry, before re-croak-ating to their current spot when the shop shut. Their identical sisters … Continue reading The Big Frogs, Darwin, NT
Sunglasses, cheeky grin, rockstar swagger. No, I’m not talking about myself, I’m describing the coolest cat in the Goulburn Valley, the legendary Big Cherry! The bright-red dude with ’tude has been breaking hearts for the past two decades, so I decided the time to meet this cherry was ripe! As I researched the Cherry in my la-big-atory, I discovered that rumours of his current whereabouts … Continue reading The Big Cherry, Wyuna, Vic
Roll up, roll up, because I want to introduce you to the largest, most-in-charge-est rolling pin you’ll ever see. She’s 14-metres-long, weighs more than two tonnes, and looms large over the famous Henri’s Wodonga Bakery. You definitely knead to see the World’s Biggest Rolling Pin! The larger-than-loaf pin was installed in 1992, in what has been described as Wodonga’s finest flour. The good people at … Continue reading World’s Biggest Rolling Pin, Wodonga, VIC
Football, meat pies, kangaroos and the Big Banana. This prodigious plantain has grown to become a huge part of Australia’s national identity. He represents this great country’s culture and history, hopes and dreams. Every child holds fond memories of popping into the Banana on a road trip up north, having their photo snapped in front of the Coffs Harbour icon, and then smashing into a … Continue reading The Big Banana, Coffs Harbour, NSW
Although he may seem shy at first, Colin is a turtle-y awesome dude once he comes out of his shell. And what a glorious exoskeleton it is, because it’s covered in shiny rep-tiles and features plenty of intricate details. This proud Territorian is one of the most beautiful Bigs around, and ready to splash his way into your heart! Colin was built in 2004 to … Continue reading Colin the Turtle, Lyons, NT
Wanguri schoolkids all know the three Rs – reading, ‘riting, and really big fish! They’re fortunate enough to have this behemoth barra swimming around the lovingly-maintained grounds of their a-cod-amy, providing lessons in largeness every little lunch. As you can see, she certainly makes the grade and has become a valuable member of the educ-ocean-al community! Of course, being located within the grounds of Wanguri … Continue reading The Big Barramundi, Wanguri, NT
