Driving between any two Australian towns or cities, you are likely to encounter an oversized and artificial roadside attraction. Typically built of fibreglass, plastic or metal, over 150 of these objects litter the highways and by-ways. Some are true works of art and important symbols of the well-being of a town. Others are built as the centerpiece of a commercial attraction while others are simply ugly and tragic. Quite a number are there purely as advertising gimmicks encouraging tired motorists to pull over and take a much needed break (and spend some money) on long distance drives.
The first of the Big Things, the Big Banana in the beautiful beachside city of Coffs Harbour recently celebrated its fortieth anniversary and several have passed their thirtieth. They have become such an icon of Australia that Australia Post recently issued a set of five stamps illustrating some of the better known ones. Many homes have matching kitsch souvenirs in teaspoons, tea towels, fridge magnets or bottle-openers.
Certainly, there's lots of fruit represented - the large Apple, Big Orange, huge Pineapple, huge Banana and also the huge Mango would build for a tasty and juicy fruit salad work for a large. Australia’s shut tie with the land is additionally memorialised with many huge Cows, many huge Sheep and an enormous Chicken. there's even an enormous Blue Heeler presumably to spherical up and corral the large sheep.
Indigenous Australiana are often found within the kinds of the large Koala, huge Kangaroo, Big Galah, huge Crocodile, huge Cassowary (a giant and endangered flightless bird) and massive Tasmanian Devil whereas our affinity with the ocean is enforced with the large Crab, Big Prawn, Big Trout, huge Lobster, huge Oyster and massive Barramundi (Australia’s best known fish).
The discoverer of Australia, Captain Cook has been suitably enlarged in a very regal cause in northern Queensland whereas the foremost famous and notorious of our outlaws has been immortalised with the large Ned Kelly in Glenrowan, where he was finally captured. the large Gumboot highlights Tully because the Australian city that receives the foremost rainfall whereas Tamworth celebrates its position as Australia’s country music capital with an enlarged version of its prized golden guitar awards.
A Big Ayers Rock provides a fuel stop however is repeatedly smaller than the $64000 issue. nonetheless at over three hundred metres in length the enormous Earthworm is just bizarre, though it attracts over two hundred,000 guests per year.
In my view, the saddest “big thing” is that the huge Potato found within the spectacular rolling inexperienced hills of Robertson. Somewhat embarrassing to the locals and lying idly in a very field, it's in desperate would like of a coat of paint and to a small degree love. Some locals have irreverently christened it “The huge Turd”.
Why are they all here? Maybe it is Australia’s renowned sense of irreverent humor. Maybe they are entertain and amuse each overseas guests and long-distance road travellers. regardless of the reasons, most Australians and plenty of overseas guests can have a photograph album containing a minimum of one family shot in front of their “Big Thing” discovery as they ventured across this numerous island continent.
