Files and links (2)
Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Magazine article
From the Big Bogan to Larry the Lobster, why do towns build Big Things?
The Conversation, Vol.27 December 2024
2024
Appears in The Conversation
Abstract
Big Things first appeared in Australia in the 1960s, beginning with the Big Scotsman (1962) in Medindie, South Australia, the Big Banana (1964) in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, and the Big Murray Cod (1968) in Tocumwal, NSW.
These structures were inspired by earlier North American examples, such as Lucy the Elephant (1882) in New Jersey, and several big doughnuts in California.
While they differed in subject matter, all aimed to attract the attention of passing motorists: in the 1950s–1960s, private car ownership had soared and highway construction spread.
Towns and regions across Australia, New Zealand and North America used oversized landmarks to get travellers to stop, take a photo and hopefully spend money at local businesses.
Details
- Title
- From the Big Bogan to Larry the Lobster, why do towns build Big Things?
- Authors
- Amy Clarke - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Sustainability Research Cluster
- Publication details
- The Conversation, Vol.27 December 2024
- Publisher
- Conversation Media Group
- Date published
- 2024
- DOI
- 10.64628/AA.kytwpannk
- ISSN
- 2201-5639
- Copyright note
- © The Conversation Media Group. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Organisation Unit
- School of Law and Society; Sustainability Research Cluster
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991091296202621
- Output Type
- Magazine article
Metrics
15 File views/ downloads
34 Record Views