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Big Things and town landmarks
Australia has more than 150 giant roadside statues, and every region has buildings in its own style. Roo Road Rescue has fifteen of them on its road trips. Drive past one and its postcard goes into your Journey Book.
Every name in the game is made up, but each one is based on a real Australian icon you can visit. The fact on each postcard is about the real thing.
Big Things
Giant statues built to make drivers stop, take a photo and buy a snack. Most were built from the 1960s to the 1990s.
The Mighty Prawn
Inspired by The Big Prawn, Ballina NSW · In the game: Byron Bay trip, in the cane country
The Big Prawn was nearly pulled down in 2009. Locals campaigned to save it, and it was restored in 2013 and given a tail for the first time.
The Grand Pineapple
Inspired by The Big Pineapple, Woombye QLD · In the game: Byron Bay trip, near the Gold Coast
The Big Pineapple opened in 1971 and is about 16 metres tall. You can climb inside it.
The Big Woolly
Inspired by The Big Merino, Goulburn NSW · In the game: Snowy Mountains trip, Monaro sheep country
Merino sheep grow some of the finest wool in the world. Goulburn's giant ram is about 15 metres tall.
Cray the Crayfish
Inspired by The Big Lobster "Larry", Kingston SE SA · In the game: Great Ocean Road trip, near the Shipwreck Coast
Southern rock lobsters are called crayfish in South Australia and Victoria. Larry is about 17 metres tall.
Gloria the Galah
Inspired by The Big Galah, Kimba SA · In the game: Nullarbor trip, in the wheat belt
Galahs are pink and grey cockatoos. Kimba says it sits halfway across Australia on the Eyre Highway.
The Monster Mango
Inspired by The Big Mango, Bowen QLD · In the game: Cairns to Daintree trip
Bowen is famous for its mangoes. The Big Mango is about 10 metres tall and was briefly "stolen" in 2014 as a marketing stunt.
Town landmarks
Buildings that show how people built for the heat, the snow, the gold rush and the beach.
Snowgum Lodge
Inspired by A-frame ski lodges in the Snowy Mountains · In the game: Snowy Mountains, Jindabyne
Steep A-frame roofs let heavy snow slide off instead of piling up on the roof.
Cliffview Palace
Inspired by Grand old hotels of the Blue Mountains · In the game: Blue Mountains, near Echo Point
From the 1880s, Sydney families caught the train up to the mountains for cool fresh air and stayed in grand hotels.
Old Gold Courthouse
Inspired by Bathurst Courthouse, built in 1880 · In the game: Mount Panorama trip, Bathurst
Bathurst grew rich in the 1850s gold rush, and the town built grand stone buildings with the money.
Mango Tree Queenslander
Inspired by Queenslander houses · In the game: Cairns to Daintree and Byron Bay trips
Queenslanders stand on stilts so cool air flows underneath, and wide verandahs keep the tropical sun off the walls.
The Thirsty Emu Hotel
Inspired by Outback pubs · In the game: Uluru trip, Stuart Highway
In the outback a "hotel" is usually the local pub. Corrugated iron roofs are light, cheap to carry and do not burn.
Edge of Nowhere Roadhouse
Inspired by Nullarbor roadhouses, with their giant whale sign · In the game: Nullarbor trip
Nullarbor means "no trees" in Latin. Roadhouses can be hundreds of kilometres apart, so drivers fill up at every one.
Shipwreck Coast Surf Club
Inspired by Surf Life Saving clubs · In the game: Great Ocean Road trip
Swim between the red and yellow flags. Volunteer lifesavers have patrolled Australian beaches since 1907.
Port Lantern Hotel
Inspired by Fremantle's Federation-era pubs · In the game: Indian Ocean Drive, leaving Perth
Lacy cast-iron balconies were popular around 1900, the time Australia became one nation in 1901.
Mural Town Hall
Inspired by Sheffield, Tasmania's "Town of Murals" · In the game: Cradle Mountain trip, Sheffield
Sheffield has more than 100 painted murals that tell the story of the area. Artists add more every year.
Visiting the real ones? Big Things are often on busy highways. Pull right off the road into the car park, and take a break while you are there: experts say to stop every 2 hours.
Learn the road signs, trees and farm animals in the road trip guide, or meet the wildlife.