One of the Sunshine Coast’s best-known attractions is being immortalised on a $1 coin.
Australia Post is celebrating our love affair with ‘Big Things’, the quirky oversize sculptures that are dotted around the country, by releasing a coin collection featuring some of the best-known examples.
Among the landmarks to be featured is the Big Pineapple at Woombye, alongside the Big Banana (Coffs Harbour, NSW), Big Lobster (Kingston, SA), Giant Ram (Wagin, WA), Giant Murray Cod (Swan Hill, Victoria), Big Tasmanian Devil (Mole Creek, Tasmania), Big Blue Heeler (Muswellbrook, NSW), Big Jumping Croc (Wak Wak, NT) and more.
“Our ‘Big Things’ are colourful, entertaining and truly make their mark in so many local communities across Australia,” Australia Post general manager retail product and supply chain Kayla Le Cornu said.
“We’re celebrating some of our most iconic ‘Big Things’ with this new coin collection, in partnership with the Royal Australian Mint.”
Big Pineapple owner Peter Kendall said the local community would be “ecstatic” to have the icon recognised on a coin.
“The Big Pineapple is such high profile icon here locally, everyone’s going to love it,” he said.
Featuring a 16m fibreglass pineapple structure, historically the Big Pineapple drew more than a million visits a year.
Built in 1971, it had such pulling power at one stage that even Princess Diana went there in 1983.
Related story: FLASHBACK: When bigger was better on the Coast
In March Mr Kendall revealed that redevelopment plans were back in full swing after a legal battle over the site was settled.
Despite their kitsch, 1980s vibe it seems we still can’t get enough of ‘Big Things’, with research finding almost 90 per cent of Australians have visited at least one of about 1000 attractions scattered across the country.
University of the Sunshine Coast lecturer Dr Amy Clarke, who’s an expert on Australia’s ‘Big Things’, said their popularity remained strong.
“‘Big Things’ can be a one-trick pony if there isn’t something else to do onsite. Once you’ve got a photo, the chances of going back are low, unless there’s plenty of additional fun to be had,” she said.
“While people often associate ‘Big Things’ with the 1980s, when a lot of them were built, we’re still building more ‘Big Things’ today.”
Federal Assistant Minister for Charities, Competition and Treasury Andrew Leigh said the nation’s ‘Big Things’ were well loved.
“Whether it’s the Big Banana, the Big Pineapple or Canberra’s very own Big Swoop, the best ‘Big Things’ celebrate the character of our communities and give visitors a reason to smile and pop in for a visit,” he said.
“While the mint’s ‘Big Things’ coins may be of standard size, the memories they evoke loom large.”
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