What’s the Big Deal With Australia’s ‘Big Things’?

[DGUtley]

What’s the Big Deal With Australia’s ‘Big Things’? - From pineapples to poisonous toads, Aussies love their enormous roadside attractions.

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The Big Cane Toad sits in the middle of a median strip separating Australia’s Bruce Highway in the east coast town of Sarina. It’s crouched as if poised to jump and its mouth hangs ajar. This, combined with its protruding black eyes, warty back, and the fact that it’s big enough to gobble up an entire human being give it an unsettling air. Sarina residents, however, are fond of the toad, nicknamed “Buffy,” who is a nod to the town’s sugarcane-farming history.

Visitors might wonder why there’s a statue of a poisonous amphibian in the middle of the highway, especially considering the cane toad is not only unattractive but is also considered a huge pest in Australia. They’ll quickly find, however, that the Big Cane Toad is not an anomaly. Drive along any highway or stop by a small town in Australia and chances are you’ll come across a giant roadside statue of something unexpected. Part tourist attraction, part cultural treasure, and more than a little bit kitsch, these “big things” are a quirky national obsession that have become a mainstay of the Aussie road trip. But despite being cherished by many, these aging behemoths are now in danger of becoming a thing of the past.

Among the most iconic big things are the Big Banana in the southeastern city of Coffs Harbour, the Big Merino in Goulburn, an inland city southwest of Sydney, and the Big Lobster in the town of Kingston, South Australia. There are at least 200 other lesser-known ones from the Big Boxing Croc in the far-north town of Humpty Doo to the Big Root in Nowa Nowa, a country town in Victoria.


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https://www.atlasobscura.com/article...hings-roadtrip

[Cotton1]

I've nary an idea why, Mate

[DGUtley]

Then... there's Indiana


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[Cotton1]

Have you ever been driving down the highway and see one of those huge Paul Bunyens ? It's quite a sight. There used to be one a few miles South of Memphis.

[DGUtley]

Have you ever been driving down the highway and see one of those huge Paul Bunyens ? It's quite a sight. There used to be one a few miles South of Memphis.

I had a case once in Madison County, Illinois. I was getting ready to try the case and I decided to drive there rather than fly to see how long it would take. I had to drag a monster file to trial and I thought it'd be easier to haul it rather than ship it. Mrs. U went with me for the final pretrial and on the way we stopped at every roadside attraction across Indiana. IIRC, including this:


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