Big Things of Australia
Big Things of Australia: The Ultimate Guide to Quirky Roadside Attractions
Discover Australia’s Big Love for Larger-Than-Life Landmarks
Australia’s fascination with Big Things began in the 1960s with the iconic Big Banana, sparking a nationwide craze for oversized roadside sculptures. These giant landmarks celebrate local culture, industries, and quirky histories — from enormous fruits and animals to everyday objects turned monumental.
Explore our state-by-state guide to Australia’s most famous Big Things, complete with fun facts like their year built, towering heights, and nearby quirky attractions. Plus, uncover some hidden Bonus Big Things perfect for travellers seeking unique photo opportunities and stories off the beaten path.
Whether it’s the Big Lobster of South Australia, the Big Gumboot of Queensland, or the Big Penguin in Tasmania, these larger-than-life icons make unforgettable stops on any Aussie road trip.
Big Things of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
| Big Thing | Location | Year Built | Height | Fun Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belconnen Owl | Canberra, ACT | 1995 | ~5 m |
Locally nicknamed “The Penis Owl” due to its shape. |
Big Things of New South Wales (NSW)
| Big Thing | Location | Year Built | Height | Fun Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Ant | Broken Hill | 1980 | 6m | Created by artist Pro Hart; symbolizes the hardworking nature of locals. |
| Big Banana | Coffs Harbour | 1964 | 13m long | Australia’s first Big Thing — it kickstarted the trend! |
| Big Beer Can | Cobar | 1990s | 5m | Mounted atop the Grand Hotel, it’s a tribute to Aussie pub culture. |
| Big Golden Guitar | Tamworth | 1988 | 12m | Celebrates Tamworth’s country music roots. |
| Big Merino | Goulburn | 1985 | 15.2m | Nicknamed “Rambo” — you can go inside and climb to its eyes. |
| Big Prawn | Ballina | 1989 | 9m | Weighs 35 tonnes; saved from demolition in 2013. |
| Big Trout | Adaminaby | 1973 | 10m | Located in one of Australia’s top trout-fishing areas. |
| Big Ugg Boots | Thornton | 2015 | 13ft tall (~4m) | The only Big Thing that’s wearable — they’re outside a UGG store. |
Big Things of the Northern Territory (NT)
| Big Thing | Location | Year Built | Height | Fun Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Aboriginal Hunter | Anmatjere | 2005 | 17m | One of the most culturally significant Big Things in Australia. |
| Big Books | Alice Springs | 2000s | 3m | Situated outside a library; promotes literacy. |
| Big Boxing Crocodile | Humpty Doo (near Darwin) | 1988 | 9m | Built to celebrate Australia’s Bicentenary — and it wears gloves! |
| Big Buffalo | Darwin | 1980s | 5m | Located in a car yard; a quirky roadside attraction. |
Big Things of Queensland (QLD)
| Big Thing | Location | Year Built | Height (approx.) | Fun Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bundy Bottle | Bundaberg | 1988 | 7 m | A nod to the famous Bundaberg Rum distillery |
| Big Cane Toad | Sarina | 1983 | 2 m | Nicknamed “Buffy.” Honors a local cane toad race tradition |
| Big Captain Cook | Cairns | 1972 | 14 m | Once a motel mascot; now a quirky landmark |
| Big Cassowary | Mission Beach | 1996 | 5 m | Near actual cassowary habitat — photo op with a wild twin? |
| Big Cow | Yandina | 1976 | 10 m | Celebrates the region’s dairy industry |
| Big Golden Gumboot | Tully | 2003 | 7.9 m | Celebrates Tully’s record rainfall and sugar cane farming |
| Big Mango | Bowen | 2002 | 10 m | Once “stolen” as part of a PR stunt by Nando’s |
| Big Mower | Mareeba | Unknown | 4 m | Pays tribute to local farming machinery |
| Big Peanut | Tolga | 2019 | 3 m | Celebrates the local peanut farming industry |
| Big Pineapple | Woombye | 1971 | 16 m | You can go inside it — part of an old theme park |
| Coffee Pot-Shaped Café | Mareeba | 1990s | ~5 m | Building shaped like a giant coffee pot |
| Denmark Hill Dinosaur Park | Ipswich | Unknown | ~3–5 m (varies) | Giant dinosaur statues peek through surrounding trees |
| Snakes Downunder Reptile Park Dragon | Childers | Unknown | ~6 m | Massive fibreglass dragon greeting visitors |
| The Kuranda Shoe House | Kuranda | 1970s | ~7 m | A house built in the shape of a giant boot |
Big Things of South Australia (SA)
| Big Thing | Location | Year Built | Height | Fun Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Cockroach | Dublin | 1990s | 4m | Erected as a protest against a proposed waste dump. |
| Big Dice | Yunta | 1980s | 3m | Two large dice beside the highway; a gambler’s delight. |
| Big Galah | Kimba | 1993 | 8m | Located halfway across Australia — and very photogenic! |
| Big Lobster (“Larry”) | Kingston SE | 1979 | 17m | One of Australia’s tallest — originally mismeasured due to an imperial/metric mix-up. |
| Big Olive | Tailem Bend | 2005 | 11m | Sits beside an olive oil factory — sample tastings available. |
| Big Orange | Berri | 1980 | 15m | Once housed a café and lookout; now a nostalgic relic. |
| Big Scotsman | Adelaide | 1963 | 5m | One of the oldest Big Things, built by the creator of the Big Lobster. |
Big Things of Tasmania (TAS)
| Big Thing | Location | Year Built | Height | Fun Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Penguin | Penguin | 1975 | 3m | Built for the town’s centenary — and yes, the town is actually called Penguin. |
| Big Spud | Sassafras | 1990s | 4m | Celebrates the local potato farming industry. |
| Big Tassie Devil | Mole Creek | Unknown | 2.5m | Located at a wildlife park dedicated to saving real Tasmanian devils. |
| Big Wickets | Westbury | 2000s | 6m | Honors the town’s cricketing history. |
Big Things of Victoria (VIC)
| Big Thing | Location | Year Built | Height | Fun Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Cigar | Churchill | 1980s | 10m | Represents the town’s namesake, Winston Churchill. |
| Big Koala | Dadswells Bridge | 1989 | 14m | Weighs 12 tonnes and has glowing red eyes at night. |
| Big Miner | Ballarat | 2000s | 7m | Symbolises the region’s gold rush heritage. |
| Big Mullet | Fish Creek | 2001 | 6m | Draped over the Fish Creek Hotel; a nod to local fishing heritage. |
| Big Ned Kelly | Glenrowan | 1992 | 6m | Commemorates the bushranger where he made his final stand. |
| Big Strawberry | Koonoomoo | 2000 | 5m | Located at a strawberry farm — stop in for scones. |
| Big Tap | Cowes | 1990s | 4m | Located at a plumbing store; water flows from the spout. |
| Big Wine Bottle | Rutherglen | Unknown | 10m | Located at a local winery — can’t drink from it, sadly. |
Big Things of Western Australia (WA)
| Big Thing | Location | Year Built | Height (approx.) | Fun Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Apple | Donnybrook | 1980s | 4 m | Celebrates the town’s apple-growing heritage |
| Big Camera | Meckering | 1979 | 5 m | Doubles as a museum of photography and weird curiosities |
| Big Crocodile | Wyndham | 1987 | 20 m | Positioned at the entrance of town — made of concrete and mesh |
| Big Mushroom | Balingup | 1970s | 6 m | Marks the entrance to a local mushroom farm |
| Big Orange | Harvey | 1984 | 10 m | Perched atop a tower — overlooks citrus orchards |
| Big Ram | Wagin | 1985 | 9 m | Has a massive concrete fleece — one of WA’s top photo ops |
| Big Wheelbarrow | Port Hedland | 2000s | 5 m | Symbolizes the region’s mining industry |
| Bizarre Fibreglass Sculptures | Northampton | 1980s+ | 2–4 m | Life-sized crocodiles and camels sit on rooftops of businesses |
| Bon Scott Statue | Fremantle | 2008 | ~3 m | Statue honors the AC/DC frontman with iconic devil horns |
| Sock Factory’s Giant Socks | York | 1990 | ~3 m | Humorous giant sock sculptures outside the sock factory |
Bonus Big Things & Quirky Roadside Attractions Across Australia
Australia is famous worldwide for its giant roadside icons like the Big Banana in New South Wales and the Big Lobster in South Australia. But beyond these famous landmarks, many towns feature lesser-known Bonus Big Things — quirky, oversized sculptures that celebrate local heritage, industries, and unique stories. These hidden gems offer fun photo opportunities and a fascinating glimpse into Australia’s rich and diverse culture and landscape.
New South Wales (NSW)
-
Big Potato (Robertson) — Built in the 1990s, this 4.5-metre-tall monument celebrates Robertson’s rich potato farming history and attracts visitors interested in agricultural landmarks.
-
Big Horse (Gundagai) — A unique tribute connected to the famous Dog on the Tuckerbox, one of Australia’s most iconic bush heritage statues.
South Australia (SA)
-
Big Almond (Loxton) — Celebrates the thriving nut industry in the Riverland region with this photogenic almond sculpture.
-
Big Citrus Fruit (Renmark/Loxton region) — A bright and vibrant nod to the region’s expansive citrus orchards, perfectly complementing South Australia’s famous Big Orange.
Tasmania (TAS)
-
Big Apple (Huon Valley) — A charming symbol of Tasmania’s renowned apple-growing tradition and a popular roadside attraction for visitors exploring the region.
Victoria (VIC)
-
Big Gum Tree (Various towns) — Smaller yet meaningful sculptures that honour Victoria’s historic forestry and timber industry.
-
Mini Pineapple (Local farms) — Charming, lesser-known tropical fruit sculptures complementing Queensland’s bigger pineapple icons.
Western Australia (WA)
-
Big Boat (Geraldton and other coastal towns) — Pays homage to Western Australia’s rich maritime heritage and fishing industries.
-
Big Camel & Big Sheep (Various farming towns) — Unique agricultural icons representing the significance of livestock farming in rural WA.
Why Visit Australia’s Bonus Big Things?
These quirky, oversized sculptures provide unique roadside attractions and excellent photo opportunities for travellers exploring regional Australia. Perfect for road trips and local tourism, Bonus Big Things add character and local flavour beyond the most famous landmarks.
Explore More of Quirky Australia’s Unique Roadside Attractions
Australia’s Big Things are iconic symbols of the country’s playful spirit and rich regional heritage, attracting visitors from near and far. To make the most of your road trip, be sure to also explore the vibrant Silo Art of Australia, where large-scale murals transform rural landscapes into open-air galleries. For a dose of the unexpected and eccentric, the Offbeat Aussie Icons showcase even more quirky landmarks that celebrate local stories and community pride. Together, these three collections offer a comprehensive and unforgettable journey through the quirkiest corners of regional Australia — perfect for art lovers, photographers, and adventurers alike.
Subscribe for Bucket List updates
