Big Mower – Beerwah

It’s horribly commercial but its tacky-ness makes me love the Big Mower! I also salute the designer who realized, a simple metal bar (making up more than half of the design) could make the big mower, big!

DETAILS
Size: 7m x 3m Year: 1974
Address: “Big Mower” 89 Beerwah Parade, Beerwah, QLD.
Photo Taken: 2012 

SCORE
Size **** 
Accessibility ** 
Aesthetics *** 
Unusual *** 
Location * 
13/25 stars

Big Barrel – Maleny

Just like the Bundaberg Barrel, the Maleny Barrel is essentially just a cleverly designed building. To make matters worse, Maleny’s Barrel is even smaller than Bundaberg’s Barrel but hey it’s still big :)

DETAILS
Size: 12m x 8m
Address: ‘Maleny Mountain Wines’ 787 Landsborough Maleny Road, Maleny, QLD (can’t miss it as you head along the main road to Maleny)
Photo Taken: 2013

SCORE
Size ****
Accessibility *****
Aesthetics
Unusual
Location **
11/25 stars

Big Hand/Mobile – Kunda Park

I’m torn about whether or not to include this one in my Big Things list. It’s purely commercial and rather uninspiring but it’s still big-ish. 2/25 stars sums it up well! Seek out on your own demise. 

DETAILS
Size:2m
Address : Outside business “East Coast Garage Doors & Gates” 2/30 Enterprise St, Kunda Park 
Photo Taken: 2012 

SCORE
Size * 
Accessibility 
Aesthetics * 
Unusual 
Location 
2/25 stars

Big Macadamia Nut – Woombye

The Big Macadamia Nut lives at the Big Pineapple, it’s currently made friends with the surrounding overgrowth, but is still somewhat visible from the car park. The Big Pineapple has changed ownerships over the last few years; in 2012 it was finally bought with the intention of restoration. The Big Pineapple received a new paint job in 2012 so there’s hope for the nut too! 

DETAILS
Size: 5m x 10m (16m)
Year: 1978
Address: 76 Nambour Connection Road, Woombye, QLD.
Photo Taken: 2013 

SCORE
Size **** 
Accessibility 
Aesthetics *** 
Unusual ** 
Location 
9/25 stars

Big Pineapple – Woombye

Ahhh we arrive at one of the most famous Big Things and for good reason, not only is the pineapple huge and well-made but you can go inside it! Inside is slightly boring, covering the history of pineapples or something or other, but if you make it to the top you’re rewarded with some nice views! I can also gloat crazy about the Big Pineapple because we share the same home town *represent*. 

The Big Pineapple (or Sunshine Plantation as it was known as till 1996) has a big history enough to fill a book (and yup I own that book!) but essentially it's gone from Bill and Lyn's Tropical, Agricultural Educating Vision of the 70s and a continued Hey Day into the 80s and 90s (Princess Di even visited!) to ownership changing hands several times and then falling into the wrong hands that led to what looked like extinction.  Fortunately, in the last few years new owners have taken on the challenge of trying to restore it back to it's former glory. A recent makeover (new paint job) + marketing efforts to attract more business, a yearly music festival, the train back in operation, farmer markets every weekend and the appearance of QLD Zoo (the moved Alma Park) are all steps in the right direction.  Here's hoping this heritage listed attraction can rise once more :)

DETAILS
Size:16m x 6m 
Year: 1971 
Address: 76 Nambour Connection Road, Woombye, QLD 
Photo Taken: 2015

SCORE
Size ***** 
Accessibility ***** 
Aesthetics ***** 
Unusual * 
Location *** 
19/25 stars

Big Cow –Yandina

Update: She's gone! On January 10th 2020 she was donated and shipped away to Highfields Pioneer Village, Toowoomba in the hopes for a full restoration. Read more here.

I remember coming to the Big Cow back when I was youngster, when you could (if memory serves me correctly) actually go inside. Not sure if the new owners are the fun police or if health & safety laws got a whole lot stricter 20 years down the track, either way it’s a shame. The cow on the other hand is, amazingly rad, even with her chipped paint job. She’s also five times the size of a normal cow, definitely deserving of a Big Things title unlike *cough* Rockhampton *cough* Underwood *cough* Mareeba, that’s right, I’m looking at you and your life-sized bulls! 

DETAILS
Size:8m x 10m 
Year: 1976 
Address: Nambour-Yandina Conection Road 
Photo Taken: 2010 

SCORE
Size **** 
Accessibility ** 
Aesthetics ***** 
Unusual *
Location 
11/25 stars

Big T-Rex – Coolum

UPDATE: MARCH 3rd 2015, Jeff has been burnt due to faulty electronics (This article below is a good read, Palmer is one mighty funny fellow!)

Clive Palmer, mining magnate (worth a net worth of 8 billion) recently acquired the golf course/resort at Coolum and aptly re-named it ‘Palmer Coolum Resort’ :) His new venture for the resort is adding 165 animatronic dinosaurs with Jeff the T-rex being the first. Jeff is impressive but with Dinosaurs being a grey area in regards to considering them 'Big Things' I'm left wondering if he deserves to be added to the list! I think all you need to know is Jeff is rad and well worth the visit. Unfortunately though I didn’t see him move (animatronics to come??) but I did spy one other dinosaur “bones” which as you may of guessed is a skeleton of an Omeisaurus (brontosaurus looking thing) - seen below!

 I’ll try and add more dino pictures as the park continues to grow! 

DETAILS
Size: 15m in length, 6m in height 
Year: 2013 
Address: ‘Palmer Coolum Resort’ 1 Warran Rd, Coolum Beach QLD 4573
Drive in the front gate of the resort and follow the signs to the visitors carpark, as you’re driving in you’ll cross a pond and if you look closely you’ll see Jeff standing tall! (1 minute drive to the carpark and a five minute walk to jeff) 
Photo Taken: 2013 

SCORE
Size ****
Accessibility
Aesthetics ****
Unusual *
Location ****
13/25 stars

Big Pelican – Noosa River

Built in 1977 as a float for the Festival of the Waters Parade, The Big Pelican has been moved and deteriorated and restored numerous times since then. He has also been affectionately referred to as ‘Percy the Pelican’ and ‘Pelican Pete’ both with some nice alliteration.

DETAILS
Size:3m 
Year: 1977 
Address: Noosaville Lions Park (on the Noosa River) Gympie Terrace, Noosaville, QLD
Photo Taken: 2012 

SCORE
Size ** 
Accessibility * 
Aesthetics ** 
Unusual *** 
Location ** 
10/25 stars

Big Shell – Tewantin

The Big Shell aka the entrance to the ‘Tropical Lifestyle’ store, was unfortunately closed the day I visited leaving a blank on some of the details of the place. The shop itself is located in a suburban street and looks just like any other house on the block, well, expect for that slight detail of the giant shell for its entrance - much intrigue, many mysteries!

DETAILS
Size: 6m x 2m 
Year: 1960 
Address: 87 Gympie Street, Tewantin, QLD
Photo Taken: 2012 

SCORE
Size *** 
Accessibility **** 
Aesthetics ** 
Unusual ** 
Location 
11/25 stars