
The big things of
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
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. ...
and some
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 sc ...
s. In Australia, big things have come to be seen as a uniquely Australian phenomenon, although they emerged at the same time as the so-called Roadside Giants (fibreglass sculptures of things) of the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
. These structures have become affectionately known landmarks scattered throughout the country. In 2022, there were just over 1,075 big things in Australia. There are big things in each state and some territories in
continental Australia.
History and importance
Originally, many of these big things were conceived as
tourist trap
A tourist trap is an establishment (or group of establishments) created or re-purposed with the aim of attracting tourists and their money. Tourist traps typically provide overpriced services, entertainment, food, souvenirs, and other product ...
s strategically placed along major roads, enticing travelers to make a stop and explore the surrounding areas. They served as eye-catching attractions, drawing attention to local businesses and promoting tourism in the region. Over time, these structures have evolved beyond their initial purpose and have acquired a special place in Australian culture.
The big things have garnered significant attention from locals and visitors, becoming something of a
cult phenomenon. Travelling to visit and photograph these structures has become a popular activity, inspiring
road trip
A road trip, sometimes spelled roadtrip, is a long-distance Travel, journey traveled by a car or a motorcycle.
History
First road trips by automobile
The world's first recorded long-distance road trip by the automobile took place in German Em ...
s where enthusiasts aim to see as many big things as possible. These journeys often culminate in group photographs, using the larger-than-life structures as unique backdrops and symbols of shared experiences.
Many of the big things have been recognised as 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 art, decorative. The makers of folk art a ...
. Their whimsical and often exaggerated designs reflect the creativity and ingenuity of their creators. Several big things have been heritage-listed, ensuring their preservation and contributing to the country's cultural heritage. These listed structures serve as reminders of the unique character and history of the regions they are located in.
Despite their popularity, some Big Things have faced controversies and potential demolition threats. Factors such as maintenance costs, changing priorities, or debates over their aesthetic value have ignited discussions regarding the delicate balance between preserving cultural icons and allocating resources for alternative purposes.
The influence of Australia's big things extends beyond the country's borders. These unique structures have inspired the creation of oversized sculptures and replicas in other parts of the world, highlighting the impact of Australian creativity and cultural exports.
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
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting
* Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine broadcast company
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial American ...
produced a documentary titled ''Big Things'' as part of its program ''The Big Picture''.
* The National Museum in
Canberra
Canberra ( ; ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the Federation of Australia, federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's list of cities in Australia, largest in ...
has a comprehensive multimedia exhibit displaying many big things.
* In 2007
Australia Post
Australia Post, formally the Australian Postal Corporation and also known as AusPost, is an Australian Government-State-owned enterprise, owned corporation that provides postal services throughout Australia. Australia Post's head office is loca ...
issued a set of 50c postage stamps by
Reg Mombassa, 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 be ...
details his visit to the Big Lobster and the Big Bull in his book ''
Down Under /
In a Sunburned Country
''Down Under'' is the British title of a 2000 Travel literature, travelogue book about Australia written by best-selling travel writer Bill Bryson. In the United States and Canada it was published titled ''In a Sunburned Country'', a title taken ...
''
* 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 ...
'', 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 6 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 Australia's big things in their comedy dictionary,
Ickypedia, as "Enbigenating".
* The Big Pineapple appears in ''
TY the Tasmanian Tiger 2: Bush Rescue''.
* In 2004, the
Foxtel
NXE Australia Pty Ltd, trading as the Foxtel Group, is an Australian pay television company that operates cable television, direct-broadcast satellite, direct broadcast satellite television, and IPTV streaming services. It was formed in April ...
channel
TV1 featured ''Magda's Big Things'' hosted by
Magda Szubanski
Magdalene Mary Therese Szubanski ( ; born 12 April 1961) is an Australian comedy actress, author, singer and LGBT rights advocate. She performed in '' Fast Forward'', '' Kath & Kim'' as Sharon Strzelecki and in the films '' Babe'' (1995) and ...
between commercial programming. Szubanski would visit a "Big Thing" and provide amusing, but often fictional, commentary. ''Magda's Big Things'' was the winner of the 2004 ASTRA Award for Most Outstanding Australian Production Short Form.
* In 2022, Australian confectionary brand
Allen's released a gummy lolly mix called ''Big Aussie Road Trip'' containing 5 gummy sweets inspired by the Big Things.
* In 2023, Melbourne punk band
Private Function released their third album ''370HSSV 0773H.'' The album cover included a
scratchcard
A scratchcard (also called a scratch off, scratch ticket, scratcher, scratchum, scratch-it, scratch game, scratch-and-win, instant game, instant lottery, scratchie, lot scrots, or scritchies) is a card designed for competitions, often made of t ...
competition to win $2999, a test pressing of the album and the winner's face on all future pressings of the album if all three scratchcard pictures matched. The scratchcard pictures included photos of the Big Banana and the Big Koala.
* In 2023, the
Royal Australian Mint
The Royal Australian Mint is the national mint of Australia, and the primary production facility for the country’s circulating coins. The mint is a Commonwealth Government entity operating within the portfolio of the Treasury, and is situat ...
released a set of
commemorative $1 coins featuring ten of the "big things".
* In 2023, five of the sculptures were used to illustrate
Australian $1.20 stamps.
[
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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 Australian ...
, which decided against "The Big Dunny"
* Giants of the Prairies
* List of largest roadside attractions
* New Zealand's big things
* 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. ...
References
Notes
Bibliography
*
* 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. .
*
External links
Map of big things
*{{cite web , title=The Big Pineapple, The Big Merino, The Big Gumboot: how big things captured Australia – a conversation with Dr Amy Clarke , url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/conversations/amy-clarke-big-things-kitsch-australia/102722092 , website=ABC listen , access-date=22 September 2023 , language=en-AU , date=31 August 2023
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), ''Big'' (film), a 1988 fantasy-comedy film starring Tom Hanks
* ''Big'', a 2023 Taiwanese children's film starring Van Fan and Chie Tanaka
* ''Big!'', a ...
Lists of public art in Australia