Rob Reacts to... BIG Things in Australia - Part 1

[@johnwhear9600]

They didn't even get to the classics... the big merino, the big banana and the big pineapple. Now we also have the big magpie and the big house of boofheads (both in the ACT).

[@kristidewar6296]

If only the D-Owl in Belco was big 😅 lol

[@melissaperkins4303]

And the 3 best ones weren't even included 😂 The big 🍍 The big 🍌 and The big Merino🐑 Great memories of my first road trip holidays as a kid.

[@Dr_KAP]

Was thinking the exact same thing!! The 3 most famous in my books are the Big Banana, The Big Pineapple and The Big Merino!!

[@strikeleader5269]

This was only part 1, many more to come I guess...

[@d1pstick32]

Repping the Big Merino. Lived in Goulburn my whole live until I moved away less than a month ago.

[@aussieragdoll4840]

Big Things relate to the area where they are located. The first was the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour. Lots of banana plantations in the area. Has restaurant, cafe, tours through the plantation (they have other fruit there too) and you can watch them making hard candy and then buy it. It's a good place to stop when driving between Sydney and Brisbane.

[@susanab7]

The Big Prawn used to be outside a service station that burnt down a number of years ago - but the Big Prawn survived! It is just sitting there by the side of the road on it's own now.

[@samsta65]

I won a competition for what “big” thing we could have in Melbourne. My winning idea was a big umbrella. Useful all year round 😬

[@lynfletcher7744]

You mean nsw and qld nice weather in victoria

[@sonyawester5303]

I’ve been been blessed to live close to a big 5 metre long poo 💩.

[@liandren]

It generally advertises the main industry in the location or activity.

[@Erizedd]

My dad was the one who made The Big Apple at 6:49 , although it's since been repainted by a local man for the memorial as it was quite weathered and faded, and the new paint job isn't too bad, but not even close to how good it originally was (the detail was crazily realistic). My dad passed a few years back, around about the time that the man who ran the apple orchard this apple was made for also passed. The picture of the big apple shows the memorial that was made to commemorate both of their contribution (the Jim Watling memorial), as well as the town's apple-growing history. Jim Watling used to be the main supplier of apples to fruit markets in Sydney back in the day, which is why the apple history in this area (Tallong) is such a big deal. We also have an apple festival each year which gets a lot of visitors. Anyway, just thought I'd share! Also, the really sad thing is that they sold off the town's orchard and are sub-dividing it into tiny lots. I'm really not happy about that. So much for preserving the town's important history....

[@RobReacts1]

Was the version in the video the one your dad did, ie his paint work?

[@Erizedd]

@@RobReacts1 No, that's the repaint. The original was a darker red, and a lot more detail with yellows and oranges and reds at the bottom (based on 'Red Delicious' apples, which were one of several varieties Jim Watling grew). The apple itself was made about 40 years ago (from fiberglass) and used to hang in front of the orchard's apple store exposed to the elements, hence why it had become dull and had to be repainted when they made the memorial.

[@666t]

The Big Penguin in Penguin Tas, they also have a TARDIS they use as a free library. The TARDIS brought back bad memories of an argument with a girlfriend over Dr Who's TARDIS, it seemed such a small thing then it got bigger the further we got into it.

[@iallso1]

Indeed

[@davidb1630]

The big prawn was at a co-op. It was for a fish co-op, that has since moved but the icon of the big prawn was a landmark. So the council had it restored. Places on the east coast seem over the decades to plant one big thing after another. Bid pineapple, big banana and so on. We love big landmarks.

[@wombatlittle1]

We drive really long stretches on the road in Australia these 'big things' are a welcoming break from the monotony and are actually kinda cool.

[@paulwheat4557]

As others have said most of the biggest and most well established such as the big Merino, Big Banana and big Pineapple are missing. These were put at locations to attract drivers to stop in for a break on a long holiday drive with the family. Driving long distance in Australia is normal so a lot of the smaller towns often had a roadhouse or pub or motel nearby. The “statues” reflect local industry such as banana growing areas in Coffs Harbour or local claim to fame. Visited many of these as a kid travelling by car with mum and dad - before everyone decided to fly.

[@sonyawester5303]

It’s only pt 1, so hopefully he will show all of those.

[@kevintopliff4995]

The Big Rocking Horse Gumeracha SA - with the wooden toy factory

[@no_triggerwarning9953]

These big things were mostly built in the 1960's and 1970's when they were viewed as a tourist attraction. The "Big Bull" on the edge of Rockhampton Queensland is my favourite. The Bull is anatomically correct and part of its anatomy is regularly stolen.

[@joandsarah77]

That barely scratched the surface. There are about 150 'Big Things' here. My favourte would be the Big Easel. It's a tribute to Van Gogh`s sunflowers as a symbol of life and hope. The Big Ned Kelly is pretty cool too.

[@RobReacts1]

Just episode 1

[@nickhiscock8948]

The big Easel is in a parkland not far from emerald railway station in central Queensland

[@stevenbalekic5683]

Most if not all are in areas that grow or have these things in the area. Potato browing region, apple orchards, fishing areas on the sea or rivers and industry in the area like the big rocking horse.

[@PiersDJackson]

As others have said... it was an excuse to stop, stretch, use the comfort station (ie. Point Percy at the Porcelain), change drivers.... and like the more recent Silo Mural trails, provide tourism. Usually the Big thing has some relevance to the location.... the Giant Murray Cod is at Tocumwal, on the Murray River.

[@gerardbryant4840]

The big trout is my favourite. It was first built back in the 50s or early 60s. Trout fishing is popular in the Snowy Mountains area, and this was built in the town of Adaminaby, after the town was moved to make way for Eucumbene dam. Don't knock the Murray cod until you've seen one, they can be massive. Some of these celebrate the history of the area, like the Big Axe. Some celebrate the produce of the area, like the big apple, and the big cherry in Young NSW, which wasn't in this video. And some are just gimmicks to make people stop during their trip. You should also check out the Big Merino in Goulburn NSW, it's a male, especially when viewed from behind. Also, the Big Banana, in Coff's Harbour, also in NSW. You may be able to see the Big Strawberry in person, it's in country Victoria.

[@nicmcee5707]

If you take coast route all way from Melbourne to Adelaide you'll see the big lobster, if you take the inland route you'll see the big Koala, and take a trip into Adelaide Hills there's the big rocking-horse. From memory you can go inside all of those.

[@jgsheehan8810]

The Big Potato looks like a giant turd. (Robertson is where the farm in the Babe movie was filmed). They are in locations renown (or want to be) for that thing. The trout is in the Snowy, where they introduced trout and there are trout farms etc. Plus there are so many more big things here that they missed. For just 2 more examples, The Big Banana at Coffs Harbour - a Banana growing area. The Big Bogan - complete with thongs, stubbies and esky- at Nyngan in the Bogan Shire near the Bogan river. etc etc

[@waza987]

The best big things are the ones you can inside. Like the classic banana and pineapple, but others that come to mind the big macadamia, the big merino and the big cow.

[@sarahemf]

When I was a kid my parents took use to Queensland and they made a point of stopping at every single tourist attraction and big thing. Best the castle for macadamia nuts, worse the uluru petrol station ( food was bad, it was in the middle of Queensland, petrol prices were extraordinarily high, let along the issue of impacts on use of an image of a sacred place as a tourist attraction)

[@tarsha8816]

We also have the big mango 🥭 The big golden guitar 🎸 The big rocking horse (and you used to be able to climb to the seat) - these ones I have been to… But here is a link for 30 big things: www.australiantraveller.com/australia/most-iconic-big-things-of-australia/amp/

[@TheSamleigh]

The Axe is well done! I reckon ALL OF THESE are great to get you off the road when driving 10 hours or more and u need a reason to stop get out of the car stretch your legs then get back in for the next 10 hour drive. The Big Prawn at Coffs - the original anyway was outside a Huge Seafood shop. Kids love these kind of things tho so good stuff.

[@troy3886]

Rob, the big galah at Kimba is the home of Corey Enright, a very small farming town in SA as they said. If you watch the 2007 AFL grand final, when they are running the victory lap, #44 Corey, or Boris to his mates, is wearing what’s meant to be a fox hat. Pun is when he tells people he’s from Kimba, they’d ask ‘wears the fox hat’ (wtf’s that)so he did on the big stage

[@troy3886]

2nd most games for Geelong, superstar and good bloke

[@kerrydoutch5104]

Rob those BIG items are generally in area where they are grown/farmed/fished . Big trout at Adaminaby in the mountains where theres trout in the rivers. Big merino in a sheep farming district. Big potato at Robertson where theyre grown. Or big galah cos theres lot of them around etc etc

[@PiersDJackson]

"Varanus" is the scientific name for the Genus of Monitor Lizards, things like the Lace Monitor, Perentie, Komodo Dragon.... and the renamed "Varanus priscus" formerly "Megalania prisca"... which was believed to be almost a metre and a half at the shoulder for an overall length of twelve metres... or to put that in context, that's just over the height of an original Morris Mini, and just short of the length of four, and the mass of two.

[@SalisburyKarateClub]

Scottys motel in Medindie (SA) has a big scotsman, Kingston has the big lobster, Gumeracha has the biggest rocking horse.

[@Merrid67play]

There's also a big bunch of cherries in Young, a town whose primary industry is cherry growing

[@lyndonmaddison5860]

As far as I'm aware the town of Robertson has no major Irish historical connections. The town has an ideal climate for potato production and that's it really. It is of course well known for this in NSW. Just to add to the way the town celebrates its potatoes, the identity is reinforced by the local rugby league club, known as The Robertson Spuddies!!!!

[@DroneKingsInDarwin]

Missing the big boxing croc in Humpty Doo, the big ARSS (Adelaide River Show Society) and the big dinosaur in Palmerston. All in the NT.

[@RobReacts1]

It's episode 2 of 4 so more to come

[@rachelstevens7625]

The ‘Bird in Hand’ sculpture is the latest installation to be unveiled along Forbes’ Sculpture Down the Lachlan trail. The phrase ‘a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush’ is the inspiration behind the latest sculpture to be unveiled as part of Sculpture Down the Lachlan (SDL) extension. ‘Bird in Hand’ by Gold Coast sculptor Michael ‘Mike’ Van Dam represents the profound responsibility of environmental preservation, sustainability and development bestowed upon humans. “This piece was made from 1600 meters of 10mm, 316 marine grade, stainless steel chain, with 38 links per meter and 4 welds per link. This equates to just over 243,000 welds and took eight months to complete.” The 6.5 metre, 3.5 tonne piece depicting a hyper-realistic hand cradling a great white egret, was unveiled today at Straneys Bridge on the corner of the Lachlan Valley Way and Hodges Road, 37 kilometres from Forbes towards Condobolin. ‘Bird in Hand’ is the third sculpture to be commissioned as part of the ‘Boosting the Lachlan Valley Economy Art Project’ and becomes the 14th sculpture featured along the SDL trail from Forbes to Condobolin.

[@anthonysutherland9507]

Big things work! Leyland Brothers built a small Ayres Rock at Karuah NSW. Went broke.🇦🇺

[@TheBrierose]

The Big Potato is known locally as the big turd, and it looks a little worn lately. It's a big potato growing area, and a lovely little town in the highlands.

[@davesmith4017]

Heaps of prawn trawling out of Ballina, good cod to be caught in the Murray River, plenty of pelicans in the Noosa River, good spuds grown round wherever, etc, etc.🤙🏻

[@robertthomson1587]

Robertson is the centre of a very fertile potato-growing area in the Southern Highlands, about 150km SW of Sydney. Hence the Big Potato, which is very unimpressive when visited. And yes, it does look like a giant turd. Everyone makes that same comment.

[@Erizedd]

I think they've upgraded it a bit since the original design, though not by much. Originally it was literally just a big dark brown oblong with no detail that really did look like a giant turd. Now at least there's a little bit of detail. Could stand to be a lot better though! Like, add some irregularities in the shape, maybe some eyes (I think that's what they're called?) and a sprout or two. lol

[@mathewkelly9968]

Varanus is the Genus that includes monitor lizards , komodo dragons , goanna etc .

[@bilby2262]

The big trout is in adaminaby, which only has about 300 people. I went there just recently and it is a trout because adaminaby is a great place to go trout fishing in the summer

[@samsta65]

They missed the Giant Worm! There really are giant worms in Victoria, they average about 3 feet, look it up, it’s what you need to catch the giant trout. 😉

[@terben7339]

Varanus is the genus name of monitor lizards (goannas). Some are big, like the Perentie and the one you'll see around Forbes is the Lace monitor, which grows to around 2 metres.

[@Merrid67play]

Bird in Hand is part of a collection of art sculptures along the Lachlan Valley Way. The Road Kill sculpture is the best of those 😉

[@helmuthschultes9243]

The large staues are normally of some special major feature of the area. The Big Prawn for example is because at Balina there is a major prawn fishing activity. Not sure whether ocean fishing it is a ocean side town or whether there is major local prawn farming in pondages/Lakes. There are many places that have prawn fishing/farming along Australian coast. The Murray Cod is unlike cod you would normally see in the UK not ocean fish, but a fresh water river fish. In this case it is located by the Murray River between VIC and NSW. Fishing for Murray cod is a major attraction on the Murray and this is a promotional feature for this town. Probably from this point of the video there will be many more large items all promote a feature of the region or town, where normally each case tries to be unique not copy the large feature already elsewhere. So Sheep lobster cattle, etc all exist somewhere. Back to watching....

[@hughenden6]

the big pelican was a parade float in Noosa, QLD and just left in the park, it has been looked after

[@kevintopliff4995]

The Big Murray Cod - riverside - the Murray River home of the Murray Cod, is great fish to eat - and can grow quite large

[@hughenden6]

i saw the big prawn being made and after it was made you could go up and look out the eyes. the guys who build that also made the big Marino and the big oyster and the plan was the have them around the country on highway 1 as they are truckstops. they went broke after making three

[@shaz464]

Where is the big banana in Queensland and the big Rocking horse in the Adelaide Hills?

[@Dr_KAP]

Yes! Although the Big Banana is in NSW 😉

[@shaz464]

@@Dr_KAP oh yes, I should have known that. I’ve stood next to it.

[@Scottyo74]

We used to go to the small Ayers Rock (Ulura) near Newcastle. haha

[@Merrid67play]

Wasn't that part of the short-lived Leyland Brothers World?

[@Scottyo74]

@@Merrid67play yes, it sent them broke. i heard: They used their mother's life savings to build it.

[@liandren]

There are a whole lot more that wasn't shown here. the big rocking horse, the big pineapple, the big pavlova to name a few.

[@RavenMacy]

Where is the big Pav. ?

[@liandren]

@@RavenMacy Marulan, NSW

[@RobReacts1]

Just episode 1

[@ceevio_art]

You got it in the end - they are all (mostly) indicative of the major industry in the area.... or if you have nothing else going on - build yourself a big papier-mache galah, I suppose

[@Merrid67play]

In Kimba, a big wheat growing district? I'm sure they love 'em there 🤣

[@stuartrowley1981]

The BIG things in Oz are all by one sculpture that represents the areas there in which started with the big Scotsman (Scotty out the front of Scotty's motel) in Adelaide then the big lobster, the big rocking horse, big banana, big apricot ( not around anymore), big galah, big merino, big pineapple, there are a heap of them around Oz but there part of a series by the same artist/sculptor. The bird in the hand isn't actually part of the BIG series nor is the other big things that looked like artistic sculptures made from other objects. They rest have just been called the big this or that coz there big but there not part of the big series.

[@madswansfan1]

The big things represent things from that area whether it be fishing, agriculture or things that bring people to the area.

[@juliequiney4078]

I live in Noosaville. The pelican is near Pelican Beach on the Noosa River

[@hughenden6]

Kimba is the half way between Sydney and Perth, I'm one town over

[@georgecurrenti]

The big prawn in Ballina is in the Bunnings car park… I found it a bit odd. Would be better located at a beach side park.

[@RobReacts1]

Yeah that's exactly my point that they should be in a location that represents that statue

[@grub8649]

I grew up in a town in the middle of NSW and the was a big beer 🍺 can on the pub's front porch.

[@larissahorne9991]

There are a couple in Queensland I've personally seen that weren't in this video. I've been to The Big Pineapple in a town in The Sunshine Coast just north of Brisbane. There are a lot of Pineapple 🍍 farms in the area. It's in front of a popular tourist attraction featuring a Restaurant with a small Railway to help people travel around a park with Animals etc. Kids can climb around inside the Big Pineapple. I've been there twice the first time as a Little Girl and again as a Teenager. Then there's The Golden Gumboot (Welly) in Tully, Far North Queensland. It's about a 2 hour drive south of Cairns. It was awarded to the town for being one of the wettest in the state. One of My Sisters used to live there for a few years.

[@Blanchy10]

Murray Cod is from the Murray River.

[@alankohn6709]

The Murray cod is a fresh water fish often caught in the Murray River Australia's longest river. and they can get big with 100+ kilo example recorded they are now rare and it is illegal to catch them.

[@liandren]

My favourite is the big trout. Adaminaby is where you can go trout fishing.

[@kriskay5020]

A town I lived near had a "big" rock lobster which fishing them was industry in town.

[@RavenMacy]

Kingston SA ?

[@kriskay5020]

@@RavenMacy Dongara-Port Denison WA

[@yvonnejohnson3232]

In Adelaide we have the " giant rocking horse" .LoL

[@TheNakedWombat]

A pelican once took a big shit on my windscreen once while driving over a bridge, making a big splatter, seeing me needing to drive with my head out of the window so I could see where I was driving up until the next servo where the bloke working there protest at me for using his window spongers to clean up the mess. The Big Pineapple at Nambour, Queensland. Good place to visit. Big desserts there too.

[@sallymay24]

I’ve been to the big pelican …it’s actually at the beach You will have to go to a couple in Melbourne when you come There’s heaps more they didn’t include

[@RobReacts1]

That was just episode one so I'm sure there is more to come!

[@whymeeveryone]

mine is the big Rocking horse, because it not far from home. The is also Rock Lobster or Crayfish

[@crazymusicchick]

Most are outside a shop that sells it, a place that produces it, eg there a big orange in Harvey wa its a town and the farms around grow oranges

[@vickispong1371]

Toc is on the river, hence cod fish. Beautiful fish just grilled in the pan. Don't know if they are plentiful any more.

[@ilovehmetal]

We have the big crocodile in Wyndham East Kimberly and what about Ploddy the dinosaur 🦕 at the Australian Reptile Park he’s the original from memory

[@nevilleapple629]

The big banana is the original and the most iconic. The art and sculptures don’t count cause of the vibe of the thing

[@lynd395]

You’ve missed the Big Strawberry, Big Pineapple & Big Banana & probably lots more. 😂🇦🇺

[@lynd395]

…& the Big Guitar, Big Merino.

[@Erizedd]

There used to be a big crab apple along the highway near... mittagong, NSW? I can't remember exactly and I don't know if it's still there, but it looked like the undeveloped, underwhelming cousin of the Big Apple. lol.

[@hughenden6]

The murry cod is on the murry river

[@DollyDimples87]

we really need a big milo....and vegemite....and maybe Tim tams for the near future

[@RobReacts1]

haha yes!

[@keithkearns93]

Maybe it was a strange first name for a bloke.

[@hughenden6]

Big things tend to represent something from the area, but not always

[@jameschapman1442]

Big banana in Coffs harbour, the whole area has lots of banana farms around it and has a resteraunt in it, we would stop there travelling north from Sydney for a banana split 😋 also the big golden guitar in Tamworth is pretty cool known for its country music 🎶

[@jenniferharrison8915]

It looks like they are generally for tourists or non-english speakers to properly locate an area! The apple was surrounded by an apple grader/sizer, pretty cool! I love the bird and hand best too! 👍 Pelican 👎

[@darrenhunt9049]

No Larry the Lobster from Kingston SE South Australia?

[@RobReacts1]

Only episode 1

[@tassiesinclair6068]

I just finessed eating a big Spud only 5 minutes ago I bought from a shop called the House of Spuds here in Devonport, on the North-West coast of Tasmania, Man it was tasty!!!...:>)

[@XaviRonaldo0]

Did they end up building the big dunny in Dunedoo? Terribly disappointed if not

[@wallycover7552]

There are dozens more of them prawn is in a big prawn trawling area and so on

[@davidpollard455]

Whered the big pineapple in qld and the big merino in Goulburn?

[@RobReacts1]

I think the original video maybe a two parter

[@liandren]

Oh boy, the big potato, also known as the big poo lol. However, Robbo is a lovely place to visit. Has a well known bakery.

[@socluded]

Tasmania has Kenny Kenebec, the big potato as well.

[@Merrid67play]

Pretty sure the Long Man of Wilmington counts as a big thing 😉

[@richardgodber8369]

Ok . These things are there to commemorate different industries in those towns .. Prawning in NSW, Murray Cod in the Riverina ., some to promote zoos and tourism ...the others like potato has nothing to do with Irish ...it’s just s potato producing area ., the big apple in WA is fruit growing area btw ., what big things are there in The UK ?..,the big vomit in Glasgow ,the big single mum in Liverpool?mmmmm ?

[@ryanboscoe9670]

Varanus are monitor lizards, I'm not sure what it's called but all monitor lizards are Varanus Yada Yada. Australia has the most monitor lizards of the entire world.

[@TheSamleigh]

“A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”. A well known historic I guess saying. No I don’t know wot it means either.

[@hughenden6]

big timber industry in and around Kew

[@mikeythehat6693]

What ? No "Big Merino " WTF. It's only the biggest big thing in the country and is curiously ommitted. That thing is as big as a building , I bet you can see it from space. Now that you've teased us , Rob,with these other big things , I think it's time to visit the creme de la creme of bigness.

[@TheLyds01]

My fav of those is the lizard 🦎

[@anEyePhil]

Notice it is a “prawn” not a “shrimp” (on the barbie).

[@wallycover7552]

It's what these areas are noted for

[@briangill4000]

Not weird. Not what people eat.. It's what they produce or are recognized for as a tourist attraction. Prawn trawling, potato growing, wildlife etc.

[@hughenden6]

I have book full of big things, and i have seem almost all of them

[@blahkjboubblah9856]

Hamilton Victoria probably has one of the most boring big things I can think of...........the big wool bales.

[@hughenden6]

Want more big things? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia%27s_big_things

[@783342]

C'mon Rob, prawns are great to eat and Ballina thinks they have great ones and the Murray River has another great food in the cod, or animals and birds you can expect to see driving to those places.

[@allangoodger969]

The potato is called something else by the locals of Robertson and yes Rob got it.

[@RobReacts1]

I would have to be pretty stupid not to think it was a big Poo! :D

[@M.J.80]

Anyone know if they ever find the big mango....

[@aussieswatching3135]

Ballina a coastal fishing town 🇦🇺😕

[@juleneyoung5053]

Big Marino

[@NaomiNunya]

Been to a few of them myself.