![Big Things Postcard](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Big_Things_Postcard.jpg)
The big things of
Australia are large structures, some of which are
novelty architecture
Novelty architecture, also called programmatic architecture or mimetic architecture, is a type of architecture in which buildings and other structures are given unusual shapes for purposes such as advertising or to copy other famous buildings w ...
and some are
sculpture
Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable ...
s. There are estimated to be over 230 such objects around the country. There are big things in every state and territory in
continental Australia.
Most big things began as
tourist trap
A tourist trap is an establishment (or group of establishments) that has been created or re-purposed with the aim of attracting tourists and their money. Tourist traps will typically provide overpriced services, entertainment, food, souveni ...
s found along major roads between destinations.
The big things have become something of a
cult phenomenon, and are sometimes used as an excuse for a
road trip, where many or all big things are visited and used as a backdrop to a group photograph. Many of the big things are considered works of
folk art
Folk art covers all forms of visual art made in the context of folk culture. Definitions vary, but generally the objects have practical utility of some kind, rather than being exclusively decorative. The makers of folk art are typically tr ...
and have been heritage-listed, though others have come under threat of demolition.
List of big things (by state or territory)
Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia
In popular culture
*The London production of ''
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: the Musical'' references the Big Prawn, Big Merino, Big Pineapple and the Big Banana.
* The
ABC produced a documentary titled ''Big Things'' as part of its program ''The Big Picture''.
* The National Museum in
Canberra has a comprehensive multimedia exhibit displaying many big things.
* In 2007
Australia Post issued a set of 50c postage stamps by
Reg Mombassa
Christopher O'Doherty, also known by the pseudonym Reg Mombassa, is a New Zealand-born Australian artist and musician. He is a founding member of the band Mental As Anything and member of Dog Trumpet (alongside his brother Peter O'Doherty).
Ea ...
, commemorating five of the most iconic big things:
** The Big Banana at Coffs Harbour (NSW)
** The Big Golden Guitar at Tamworth (NSW)
** The Big Lobster at Kingston SE (SA)
** The Big Merino at Goulburn (NSW)
** The Big Pineapple at Nambour (QLD)
*
Danny Wallace mentions Australia's big things in his book ''Yes Man''.
* Travel writer
Bill Bryson
William McGuire Bryson (; born 8 December 1951) is an American–British journalist and author. Bryson has written a number of nonfiction books on topics including travel, the English language, and science. Born in the United States, he has b ...
details his visit to the Big Lobster and the Big Bull in his book ''
Down Under
The term ''Down Under'' is a colloquialism which is differently construed to refer to Australia and New Zealand, or Pacific Island countries collectively.Oxford English Dictionary (Electronic), Version 4.0, entry fordown under. The dictionary r ...
/
In a Sunburned Country''
* In the Australian comedy film ''
Young Einstein
''Young Einstein'' is a 1988 Australian comedy film written, produced, directed by and starring Yahoo Serious. It is a fantasized account of the life of Albert Einstein which alters all people, places and circumstances of his life, including r ...
'', when the titular character books into a hotel, the desk clerk asks if he's "Here to see the Big Bed?"
* English stand-up comedian
Ross Noble
Ross Markham Noble (born 5 June 1976) is an English stand-up comedian and actor. Noble rose to mainstream popularity through making appearances on British television, particularly interviews and on panel shows such as '' Have I Got News for You' ...
visited many of Australia's big things during his 2009 tour Ross Noble's Australian Trip.
* Australian comedians
The Listies categorise Australian's big things in their comedy dictionary,
Ickypedia as "Enbigenating".
See also
*
Dunedoo, New South Wales
Dunedoo ( ) is a village of 1,021 inhabitants situated within the Warrumbungle Shire of central western New South Wales, Australia. Dunedoo is well known to Australian travellers due to its distinctive name ('' Dunny'' is a colloquial Australia ...
, which decided against "The Big
Dunny
An outhouse is a small structure, separate from a main building, which covers a toilet. This is typically either a pit latrine or a bucket toilet, but other forms of dry (non-flushing) toilets may be encountered. The term may also be used t ...
"
*
List of world's largest roadside attractions
This is a list of verifiably notable roadside attractions.
Asia
Thailand
* Great Buddha of Thailand
Europe
North America Canada
Alberta
* World's Largest Dinosaur, Drumheller, Alberta
* Vegreville egg (Ukrainian Easter egg), Vegrevil ...
*
New Zealand's big things
The big things of New Zealand are large novelty statues located in small towns which typically relate to the town and its identity. Examples include the Taihape gumboot, in a town which has an annual gumboot-throwing contest; the large Lemon & ...
*
Novelty architecture
Novelty architecture, also called programmatic architecture or mimetic architecture, is a type of architecture in which buildings and other structures are given unusual shapes for purposes such as advertising or to copy other famous buildings w ...
References
General references
*
* Scutt, Craig. ''The Little Book of Big Aussie Icons''. Five Mile Press. .
* Clarke, Amy (2017)
"Australia's 'Big' problem – what to do with our ageing super-sized statues?"''The Conversation (Australia)''. 19 September 2017.
* Clarke, Amy (2017)
"Australia's Big Dilemma: Regional/National Identities, Heritage Listing and Big Things."''Quotation: Proceedings of the 34th Annual Conference of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand'', edited by Gervork Hartoonian and John Ting, p. 46–56. University of Canberra. .
Specific references and notes
External links
{{wikivoyage, Big Things of Australia
Postie Notes.
Map of big things*
ttps://bigthingsofaustralia.com/ Big Things of Australia
Novelty buildings in Australia
Outdoor sculptures in Australia
Roadside attractions
Big
Big or BIG may refer to:
* Big, of great size or degree
Film and television
* ''Big'' (film), a 1988 fantasy-comedy film starring Tom Hanks
* ''Big!'', a Discovery Channel television show
* ''Richard Hammond's Big'', a television show present ...
Lists of public art in Australia