How much the weirdest ‘Big Things’ of Australia are worth

They range from famous landmarks to cheesy eyesores* but Australia’s so-called “Big Things” have a deep and interesting history – and some are worth much more than you might think.

In fact, because of the tourists they attract every year, many are thriving businesses that are worth millions of dollars.

But not every giant Aussie landmark is worth its weight in money.

Kevin Brogan, real estate expert from Heron Todd White, said figuring out what many of these giant icons* were worth was tricky.

He said it depended on how much money the business made from visitors, compared to the overall cost of keeping the facilities in good condition.

“A question anyone building these has to ask is, ‘How many visitors will it bring and is it worth the cost?’” he said.

If your parents are planning a family road trip around Australia, why not ask them to add a few stops to look at some of the weirdest “Big Things” the country has to offer?

THE BIG PINEAPPLE, QUEENSLAND
Standing 16m high in Nambour on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland’s Big Pineapple was officially relaunched* earlier this year after first opening in 1971.

During the glory days* of the 1970s and ‘80s, the Big Pineapple included a tourist train, zoo and souvenir shop and boldly claimed to host more than one million visitors a year.

Owner Peter Kendall and his company CMC Property have recently started a full renovation* after buying the Big Pineapple in 2011 for $5.8 million. It had previously been owned by the same family for three decades.

Generations of Aussies will remember the Big Pineapple for road trips to the Sunshine State, birthday parties and weddings, train rides and ice-cream.

It may also be remembered for the time a local man took the famous train for a joy-ride before crashing it and derailing* four of its carriages in 2020. Luckily, no one was hurt.

THE BIG KANGAROO, QUEENSLAND
Brisbane’s Big Kangaroo isn’t just another one of Australia’s larger-than-life icons — her name is Matilda, and she has a 30-year history that’s taken her all around Queensland.

Built on top of a forklift for the city’s 1982 Commonwealth Games, Matilda was a 13m tall animatronic* that could move its head, ears and eyes. She was seen winking at the audience during the opening ceremony of the Games, with children running out beneath her pouch to enter the field.

After her service, she travelled south to sit by the entrance to Cade’s County Waterpark, which would eventually become Wet’n’Wild Gold Coast.

When Puma Energy bought Matilda in 2009, she required extensive* repairs, with tens of thousands of dollars spent helping the kangaroo stand the test of time.

Matilda now sits north of Brisbane, at a rest stop right next to Caltex Traveston in Kybong.

She’s still getting visitors to this day and can still wink and turn her head. She’ll be turning 50 in 2032 — the same year as the Olympic Games in Brisbane, and officials are hopeful she can make an appearance.

THE GIANT KOALA, VICTORIA

Many of Victoria’s big things are animals, including the 14m-tall Giant Koala souvenir shop and cafe in Dadswells Bridge at the foot of the Grampians.

Dreamt up by former motor inn and roadhouse operators Beryl and Jim Cowling in the 1980s, the bronze, fibreglass and steel structure was made by sculptor Ben Van Zetton.

Public records show the business sold for $220,000 in 2014. It is now run by owner Pat Crute.

THE BIG NED KELLY, VICTORIA

One famous historic figure immortalised* in mega-size is bushranger Ned Kelly, with statues in Maryborough, Queensland, and at a mini golf course near Ballarat.

But possibly the most famous statue is a 1.5 tonne, 6m-tall structure in the Victorian town of Glenrowan, where Kelly lived as a youngster before his infamous last siege took place at a local inn in 1880.

A Sydney special effects technician* was paid about $14,000 to create the statue in 1992.

THE GIANT GNOME, VICTORIA

Officially called Reflective Lullaby, this 10m high stainless steel sculpture of a gnome by sculptor Gregor Kregar is known by locals as “Frankie.”

Frankie was originally commissioned* as artwork to sit alongside a freeway but has since found a new home at Langwarrin’s McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery.

THE BIG ROCKING HORSE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

This icon at Gumeracha in the Adelaide Hills welcomes visitors to a toy shop, wildlife park, cafe and a brand new mini golf course.

The Big Rocking Horse first opened in 1981 and stands 18.3m tall.

Tourists can climb to the lookout on top of its head via a series of internal ladders and walkways.

The park sold for about $900,000 in 2004 and underwent a full restoration before being sold again in 2009.

POLL

GLOSSARY

• eyesores: something that is considered ugly to look at
• icons: symbols considered worthy of admiration
• relaunched: reopened after being fixed up
• glory days: a time in the past regarded as being better than the present
• renovation: when buildings and statues or facilities get fixed up and made to look better
• derailing: when a train crashes and it comes off the train tracks
• animatronic: a puppet that is operated electronically
• extensive: lots of them
• immortalised: to make someone famous through an artwork so that the person is remembered for a long time
• special effects technician: someone who creates special effects in movies
• commissioned: when an artist is paid a sum of money to create an artwork

EXTRA READING
Treasure found after 30 year hunt
Time-travelling adventurers set off
Second gold rush on Oz horizon

QUICK QUIZ
1. Where in Australia is the Big Rocking Horse?
2. What year did the Big Pineapple open?
3. What is the nickname given to the 10m gnome statue in Victoria’s McClelland Sculpture Park?
4. How did Matilda the big kangaroo come to be?
5. In which Victorian town can you find a 6m tall statue of the famous bushranger Ned Kelly?

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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Design a “Big Thing” for your town
Think about your town or local area … is it famous or well-known for anything? What amazing features does it have?

Design a “Big Thing” for your town or local area. Something that will make people want to come to visit, see it and then hopefully decide to explore more of your region.

Sketch your design idea below. Name your Big Thing and explain why people would want to come to see it. How would it make money to pay for its upkeep and maintenance?

Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Design and Technologies, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
Which “Big Things” have you visited in Australia, if any?

Which was your favourite and why?

Why do you think Aussies flock to these types of tourist attractions?

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Geography, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
Read with Kung Fu punctuation
Pair up with the article between you and stand up to make it easy to demonstrate your Kung Fu punctuation.

Practise reading one sentence at a time. Now read it again, while acting out the punctuation as you read.

Read and act three sentences before swapping with your partner.

Take two turns each.

Now ask your partner to read a sentence out loud while you try and act out the punctuation. Can you keep up? Swap over?

Try acting out two sentences – are you laughing yet?