Good, Bad, and the Ugly Big Things

Driving along the downy roads of Australia, you will definitely encounter few, or rather many, outsized artificial structures. Built with either fibre glass, metal or plastic, there are as many as 150 structures known as “Big Things” on the roadways and they are definitely worth more than a glance.

Few of them are designed and constructed quite skillfully, and immediately arises love for art and humanity. Some among 150 structures are built outside few commercial edifices just for public display. However, few are quite ugly and catastrophic. Some structures seem to generate a good income for the shops and bistros besides which they stand. They induce drivers or riders to take a break for the long, tiring drive and consume some product.

First among Big Things, the Big Banana is an enlarged replica of a banana placed just outside the gorgeous beachside town of Coffs Harbour. This Big Banana recently celebrated its 40th birthday.

People of Australia, including the Aussie government, seem to be quite obsessed with these structures. Newly, Australian post released a set of five stamps, each depicting a structure from “Big Things.” If government is indulged in such obsession, common people can’t are bound to do something more unusual. Having a set of crockery representing “Big Things” is quite common here. Don’t treat an individual as a kid, if you find him using a Big Banana teaspoon, or a Big Sheep tea towel; he is just following the trend set by government.

Not 150, but they have tried to cover as many ‘enlarged’ fruits as they can. There is Big Pineapple, Big Mango, Big Apple, Big Orange, and Big Banana. Cattle breeding and poultry farm has to be one of the chief occupation here. Or at least that’s what you think when you look at numerous Big Sheep, Big Cow, or a Big Chicken. They Australians have also produced a Big Blue Heeler, probably to hold the Big Sheep.

If you haven’t seen any real dinosaurs, don’t fret. You can watch Big Crocodile, Big Kangaroo, Big Koala, Big Tasmanian Devil, Big Galah and Big Cassowary, as big as dinosaurs. Australia has many beaches that can, anytime, be attacked by intruders. Hence, these coasts are guarded by Big Lobster (not eatable), Big Trout, Big Barramundi, Big Prawn, Big Oyster and Big Crab. No, none can be eaten. They are big, probably they can eat you.

Captain Cook is convincingly commemorated by placing a big Captain Cook in northern Queensland. This majestically posed statue is rightfully enlarged. However, these structures are truly immortalized with the figurine of The Big Ned Kelly located in Glenrowan, the place where he was captured.

Rainfall is moderate throughout the country. However, the town of Tully is an exception. This region receives highest rainfall. Hence, it’s been gifted with a pair of Big Gumboot. Whereas, the music capital of Australia, Tamworth, receives a Big Guitar as it has earned many golden guitar awards.

I can say, there isnt much consistency or the ratio of enlargement is not constant across all 150 statues. Not everything is bigger than the original size. The Big Ayers Rock is quite attractive but much smaller than the actual size. But, few things are exceptionally bigger like The Giant Earthworm that measures 300 meters in length. Wow! Nearly 200,000 touch this earthworm every year.

There is one structure Big Potato, that takes me back to the first paragraph when I told you about ugly pieces. If potatoes are as ugly as this big one, I would prefer using it to hit someone instead of eating. The Robertson garden is quite luxuriant and beautiful, if you don’t glance at the direction when Big Potato lays lazily, color faded. No, not even like a peeled potato. I don’t know; something ugly. People here call it The Big Turd.

Why are they here, in Australia? I don’t know. Maybe it’s an Australian way of demonstrating humor. Maybe they are constructed to attract tourists. Whatever may be the reasons, most of the “Big Things” are just awesome.