They’re eye-catching, often whimsical, sometimes exaggerated — and they’ve all got one thing in common. They’re big.
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We’re talking about the big things of Australia — the many structures, sculptures and novelty architecture located all over the country.
In fact, by 2022 there were more than 1075 big things across Australia, many of which are now affectionately seen as landmarks.
Now, with talk of Shepparton getting its very own ‘Big Pear’, debate is swirling over where it should go — or even if it’s the right choice of big thing at all.
Some argue a big cow might be better suited.
There’s obviously a lot to consider.
But the broader debate is whether these types of landmarks actually attract tourists — and whether the financial investment in making something ‘big’ is even worth it at all.
To better understand the appeal, The News reached out to artists and sculptors Tank and Steve Tobin from Tank and Tobin Sculpture Works — a duo regularly recognised on the Big Things of Australia Facebook page.
Their growing number of large sculptures across both Victoria and NSW are attracting plenty of attention online, with travellers tagging the pair in many a holiday post.
So — are people coming into the area just to see sculptures and art?
Could something ‘big’ attract more people to the region?
“We’ve had a fantastic response from travellers sharing our sculptures on social media,” Tank said.
“The silo trail helped set the scene for art tourism, and our sculptures have been a nice addition for people to visit in between silos.
“Pages like Big Things Australia, North East Art Trails and Australian Roadside Art play an important role in public art recognition — they act as one-stop shops for tourists to share artworks and locations to a wider audience.”
While the pair don’t believe there’s a magic formula for going viral or drawing people to the region, their sculptures are certainly helping drive those outcomes.
They say staying proactive and creative has helped their work evolve from one commission to the next — with momentum building every day.
“It’s great to play a tangible part in Australian tourism with our sculptures,” Tank said.
“Among our commissions that will keep popping up in towns around the country, we have something absolutely momentous on the horizon, but at this point our lips are sealed, our fans will just have to wait.”
The Tank and Tobin Sculpture Works sculpture map stretches from Melbourne to Berrigan in NSW, with plenty to see in between.
It’s publicly available on Google Maps and, since going live in mid-June, has attracted almost 11,000 views.
“Our sculptures have proven themselves to be a great drawcard, with thousands of people visiting them to take a photo,” Tank said.
“There’s no doubt these types of attractions are great for tourism in our regions.”
You can find the sculpture map by visiting Tank and Tobin Sculpture Works on Facebook.
As Tank and Tobin’s success shows, a bold idea and a big sculpture might just be the next big thing.
Whether it’s a pear, a cow or something entirely unexpected, one thing’s for sure — the interest in going big isn’t getting smaller.
You can find the sculpture map by visiting Tank and Tobin Sculpture Works on Facebook.
Photo by
Kelly Carmody
The Superb Parrot in Strathmerton.
The Wedge Tail Eagle Sculpture at Ulupna Island.
Steve Tobin and Tank from Tank and Tobin Sculpture Works.
An aerial view of the proposed Big Pear structure at Emerald Bank.
Did you know we already have a ‘big thing’ right here in Shepparton? The Big KFC Bucket on Doyles Rd is hard to miss.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit