Big Spider – Townsville

Found this big replica of the Silver Orb Spider by accident on our search for the Big Brolga. He’s obviously a gimmick for the Museum but he’s still big, so he gets included! 

DETAILS
Size: 6m x 4m Address: ‘Museum of Tropical North Queensland’ 70-102 Flinders Street East, Townsville, QLD.
Photo Taken: 2012 

SCORE
Size ** 
Accessibility 
Aesthetics ** 
Unusual ** 
Location * 
7/25 stars

Not So Big Dinosaur – Townsville

Whilst snapping away at the spider I couldn’t turn my back on getting some pics of ‘Nibbles’ the dinosaur outside the entrance to the museum, he’s rather on the small size, so I’m going to have to politely decline his access to the Big Things of Oz, Big list…sorrry!

DETAILS
Address: ‘Museum of Tropical North Queensland’ 70-102 Flinders Street East, Townsville, QLD.
Photo Taken: 2012

Big Crab – Cardwell

Crabs are almost as bad as life-sized bulls to me. They lack uniqueness and in my experience are always positioned way too high, if you can’t touch a big thing it’s always a somewhat of a disappointment *sad face*

DETAILS
Size:2m 
Year: 1992 
Address: Cnr Bruce Hwy and Richards Street, Cardwell, QLD.
Photo Taken: 2012 

SCORE
Size * 
Accessibility 
Aesthetics *** 
Unusual 
Location 
4/25 stars

Big Gumboot – Tully

The Gumboot gets double thumbs up from me. It’s big, it’s unique, it’s well made and you can go inside it! That’s right folks 5/5 stars on accessibility! Oh and it has a cute frog on it!! It’s also a nice tribute to a town with the most annual rainfall in Australia, although some disputes with surrounding towns on that fact. They can’t dispute though that Tully officially holds the record for highest amount of annual rainfall in Australia (of a populated area) of 7.9m in 1950 and it just so happens the gumboot is 7.9m tall - clever! 

DETAILS
Size: 7.9m x 6.1m 
Year: 2003 
Address: Butler Street (Banyan Park – ‘Tully’s Bus Transit Centre’) Tully You’ll see it as you enter the township from the Bruce Hwy, QLD.
Photo Taken: 2012

SCORE
Size **** 
Accessibility ***** 
Aesthetics **** 
Unusual ***** 
Location ** 
20/25 stars

Big Cassowary – Mission Beach

Did you know there could be a few as 1000 remaining Cassowaries left in Australia? Mission Beach is one of the hubs for Cassowaries and hence the need to celebrate with a Big Thing. Mission Beach unfortunately went through devastation when Cyclone Yasi ripped through in Feb 2011. There was so much concern for the survival of the Cassowaries that they arranged fruit drops for them. I’m happy to report, I was lucky to see five Cassowaries up north when I was there in 2012, let’s hope one day, Cassowaries can make it off the endangered species list! 

DETAILS
Size: 4m x 4m 
Address: Outside ‘Wongaling Beach Shopping Complex’, Wongaling Beach Road, Mission Beach, QLD.
Photo Taken: 2012 

SCORE
Size **** 
Accessibility ** 
Aesthetics **** 
Unusual ***** 
Location * 
16/25 stars

Not So Big Brahman – Mareeba

Ahh my dislike of life-sized “big things” cows! This cow received a whopping 0/25 Stars and removal from the the Big Things of OZ, Big list! 

DETAILS
Address: ‘Mareeba Information Centre’ 345 Byrnes Street, Mareeba, QLD.
Photo Taken: 2012

Big Peanut – Tolga

He kind of cheats because half of him is just a sign but his tacky-ness wins me over, I mean just look at that bow tie, hat and cheesy grin - amazing! 

DETAILS
Size:8m 
Year: 1977 
Address: ‘The Peanut Place’ Kennedy Hwy, Tolga , QLD.
Photo Taken: 2012 

SCORE
Size **** 
Accessibility *** 
Aesthetics *** 
Unusual ** 
Location * 
14/25 stars

Big Barramundi – Tarzali Lakes

Nobody could dispute the hugeness of this fish, he’s also nicely made, I just want to like him more than I do. Perhaps because in the Big Things World, fish are a dime a dozen. 

DETAILS
Size: 6m
Address: “Australian Platypus Park’ Corner of Weaver Street and Atherton Herberton Road, Tarzali Lake, QLD (5mins out of Atherton)
Photo Taken: 2012 

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

Not So Big Frog – Chillagoe

The Big Trout rock painting in Derby, Tasmania, was bigger than this guy and since the Trout is off the Big Things of Oz, Big List, so are you Mr Frog! Cool rock art though! 

DETAILS
Address: 5kms after Almaden, QLD (the nonexistent town before Chillagoe)
Photo Taken: 2012

Not So Big Elasmasaur – Chillagoe

This guy’s neat but he isn’t overly big and that’s an important criteria for the Big Things list, so sorry Elasmasaur, you’re off the list! 

DETAILS
Address: Entrance to Chillagoe town, along the main road, QLD.
Photo Taken: 2012

Big Marlin – Earlville, Cairns

I thought I wouldn’t catch this big thing...get it...”catch it”...the fish!! Anyhoo, after almost giving up the search and scaring the cleaner at Maccas with my Big Things interrogation (he did end up putting me in the right direction, thank-you sir) I was sad to find this nicely sized beast smack bang in a very uninspiring car park, hence the art black and white photo :P

DETAILS
Size:10m x 2m 
Year: 1980 
Address:’Stockland Earlville Shopping Centre” 537 Mulgrave Rd, Bruce Hwy, Earlville 
Photo Taken: 2012 

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

Big Captain Cook – Cairns

I love this guy, he’s big and well-made but doesn’t really seem to fit his surroundings. I’m sure there is a good story to how he came to be, where he is, but unfortunately I don’t know it. 

UPDATE: A reader, Dan has let us know more of Captain Cook's backstory “Big Jimmy was built as a drawcard to the captain Cook motel which has since been demolished. So now he is just standing there pointing out to a random direction for no apparent reason” Thanks Dan! 

DETAILS
Size:7m (14m x 2m) 
Year: 1972 
Address: 204-212 Sheridan Street, Cairns, QLD (main road exiting North of Cairns) 
Photo Taken: 2012 

SCORE
Size **** 
Accessibility * 
Aesthetics *** 
Unusual **** 
Location 
12/25 stars

Big Croc Head – Daintree River

Before the barge you’ll find a set of stalls promoting commercial activities for the area, this is also where you’ll find the Croc Head. I went up to the guy manning the Croc Head display and asked if it would be okay to take a picture he said sure but then suggested there was something close by, I’d probably be more interested in, pointing to a cute baby bird. I don’t think the guy quite understood why on Earth I wanted to take a picture of a fake Croc Head, especially in an area chock full of beautiful wildlife but I ended up taking a photo of both and being quite content with the World.

DETAILS
Size: 2m x 4m
Year: 2001
Address: Daintree Rd, Mossman . Just before the Cape Tribulation Ferry Crossing (across the Daintree River)
Photo Taken: 2012 

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

Big Strawberry – Elimbah

Don’t be fooled, like I did and think that the strawberries visible from the Bruce Hwy, during strawberry picking season (june-oct) are the actual Big Strawberry, no no no! These imposter 1m tall strawberries (there are two of them – seen below) are merely there to bring in traffic to Rolin Farms. The real gem (top photo) is at the farm itself.

DETAILS
Size:4m x 3m 
Address: Coming from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane, Take exit no. 157 (Toorbul/Donnybrook) onto pumicestone rd, then the first left (road adjacent to the Bruce Hwy). About 500 metres down this road you’ll come across one of the smaller imposter strawberries (during picking season june-oct) but you need to travel another 3kms down the road to the actual farm (124-190 Rutters Rd, Elimbah QLD 4516) to grab a picture of the Big Strawberry. 
Note: I was still able to grab a photo of the Big Strawberry in the off season! 
Photo Taken: 2013 

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

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