The Visionaries Behind Australia's Big Things
Meet the artists, entrepreneurs, and dreamers who built our oversized icons
Behind every Big Thing is a story of ambition, creativity, and often eccentricity. From Hungarian restaurateurs to Hawaiian-inspired plantation owners, these are the visionaries who shaped Australia's roadside landscape.
Paul Kelly: The Pioneer Sculptor
Adelaide sculptor and signwriter Paul Kelly is responsible for some of Australia's most iconic Big Things. His masterpiece, the Big Lobster (Larry) in Kingston SE, was unveiled in 1979. Standing 17 metres tall, it was commissioned by local lobster fisherman Ian Backler. Kelly modelled the sculpture on a real lobster that he purchased and had stuffed, then constructed it from a steel frame covered in fibreglass at his Edwardstown workshop. The Big Scotsman in Adelaide (1963) is also attributed to Kelly, making him arguably the father of the Big Things movement.
The Mokany Brothers: Building an Empire
Hungarian-born brothers Attila and Louis Mokany operated the popular Viennaworld Restaurant franchise in Goulburn when they conceived the Big Merino in 1985. Working alongside builders sometimes 18 hours a day, they oversaw construction of the 15.2-metre monument designed by architect Gary Dutaillis. The Mokany brothers didn't stop there—they were also behind the Big Oyster in Taree and the Big Prawn in Ballina, creating a trilogy of NSW icons.
Bill and Lyn Taylor: The Pineapple Pioneers
After Bill Taylor spent 20 years at the United Nations and Lyn worked as an interior designer in New York City, the couple returned to Australia in 1970. In 1971, they purchased a pineapple farm near Woombye and created the Sunshine Plantation—a revolutionary agri-tourism concept. The 16-metre Big Pineapple opened on August 15, 1971, and was so successful it won the first-ever annual award for Queensland tourism development. The Taylors were later invited to build a similar project in Hawaii, creating the Hawaii Tropical Plantation in 1984.
Community Creators
Not all Big Things were built by entrepreneurs. Many were community projects celebrating local industries and heritage. The Big Golden Gumboot in Tully was erected by the community to celebrate their status as Australia's wettest town. Towns across Australia have used Big Things as statements of pride, from the Big Merino in Goulburn celebrating the wool industry to the Big Winch in Coober Pedy acknowledging the mining community's heritage.
The Bottom Line
Australia's Big Things represent more than just roadside attractions—they're monuments to the dreams and determination of the people who built them. From Paul Kelly's pioneering sculptures to the Mokany brothers' tourism empire, these creators understood something fundamental about the Australian psyche: we love things that are big, bold, and just a little bit ridiculous.