Australia's First Big Thing: The Big Banana Story
How an American entomologist's roadside fruit stall sparked a national phenomenon in 1964
In December 1964, a 13-metre yellow banana appeared on a hillside north of Coffs Harbour, NSW. Built by American entomologist John Landi to attract customers to his roadside fruit stall, this fibreglass marvel would become the catalyst for Australia's beloved Big Things tradition.
The Man Behind the Banana
John Landi was an American entomologist who fell in love with Australia during a six-month research trip in 1962. He and his wife Betty emigrated and purchased a five-hectare banana plantation at Macauley's Headland, just north of Coffs Harbour. Inspired by a large pineapple he had seen on top of the Dole Cannery in Hawaii, Landi figured a similarly eye-catching banana would help promote sales at his roadside fruit stall.
Building the Icon
With assistance of £1,200 and local engineer Alan Chapman, the project began. Chapman designed the giant banana by cutting the best-looking banana he could find into 40 pieces and developing plans from those sections. Builder Alan Harvey began construction in September 1964 on the 13-metre long, 5-metre high, 2.4-metre wide structure. The local Banana Growers Federation thought it was such a good idea they agreed to meet half the construction costs.
Opening Day Success
The Big Banana officially opened on December 22, 1964. It was an instant success, with over 2,000 people visiting each day during the Christmas school holiday period. John Landi sold his share of the business to partner John Enevoldson in 1968, who operated it until 1988. Today, the site has grown into the Big Banana Fun Park with over 20 attractions.
A Legacy of Giants
While some claim the Big Scotsman in Adelaide (1963) or Ploddy the Dinosaur in North Gosford (1963) were technically first, the Big Banana is widely credited with popularising the concept and inspiring the wave of Big Things that followed. The Mokany brothers, who built the Big Merino in 1985, explicitly cited the Banana's success as their inspiration.
The Bottom Line
The Big Banana remains one of Australia's most visited roadside attractions, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. What started as a clever marketing ploy by an American immigrant became a uniquely Australian tradition that now includes over 150 oversized structures across the country.