If you plan to travel to Australia, then you must know that this beautiful country has a lot to offer to its visitors. As a matter of fact, in Australia you can find some of the biggest and most amazing structures in the world – Australia is the home of over 150 different architectural masterpieces and tourist attractions that are commonly known as “Big Things”. The Big Things of Australia are certainly a must-see for every tourist who wants to get a deeper insight into the traditions, history and the folk art of this country.
These are basically sets of loosely related large sculptures and structures that began as tourist traps – today, they are considered to be some sort of a cult phenomenon and they are usually used as an excuse for road trips for tourists and locals to take group photos. Most of the Big Things have been heritage listed, and the whole frenzy started with the Big Scotsman in Adelaide, built in 1963.
Big Things In New South Wales
The New South Wales area, for example, is very popular for being the home of the Big Ant, Big Cheese, the Big Beer Can (for the thirsty ones) or the Big Banana. The latter Big Thing is actually the first structure to be erected almost five decades ago – this is basically one of the most sought-after tourist complexes in Australia, and here visitors can enjoy a tour of the banana plantation and purchase souvenirs from the gift shop. On the other hand, in the New South Wales area visitors can also see the Big Axe, which was erected back in 1979, the Big Bicycle or the Big Bench (one of the newest structures, erected in 2002). The Big Ayers Rock is perhaps the most representative Big structure for the New South Wales area – this is a 1/40 scale model of Uluru, and it is now the roof of the well-known Rock restaurant. This is currently one of the most appreciated objects of roadside art in Australia, and thousands of tourists visit it on a yearly basis.
Even though the above-mentioned Big Things were especially created to commemorate or to celebrate an object or an idea, at the opposite end there is the Big Poo. Long story, short, the Big Poo was erected back in 2002 as a sign of protest against the decision of Sydney Water, which didn’t agree with reusing waste water.
Big Things In Queensland
Queensland is famous for the Big Barrel, which is a gift and bottle shop for brewed drinks, as well as an interpretive visitors center. The Big Barrel was erected in 2005, and it can be found on the Bargara Road. The Big Boot is another tourist attraction and, just as the name implies, it represents a large shoe located on the roo of a car sales yard. The six Big Bulls sculpted by Hugh Anderson or the Big Captain Rock (which measures no less than 14X2 meters) are two other important structures in the Queensland area.
Big Things in South Australia
The Big Australian Farmer is by far the most-known Big Thing in South Australia. The artist Marijan Bekic and his son David needed two years to carve it, it measures 8 meters in height and it weighs 70 tons. The
Big Dice, the Big Kangaroo or the Big Lobster are also very popular in the area.
Big Things in Victoria
Victoria is the home of the Big Abalone, the Big Cows and the Big Cigar (which is a realistic replica of Sir Winston Churchill’s cigar). Also, here you can see the Giant Koala or the Big Miner.
Big Things in Western Australia
Last, but certainly not least on the list of Big Things, Western Australia hosts the Big Bobtail which is carved out of rammed earth, the Big Crocodile and the Bert Bolle Barometer, which is actually the largest working water barometer in the world!
Courtesy of: East Coast Car Rentals