The Big Cane Toad

Sarina•QLD

Height

2.4 meters

Year Built

1988

Address

Bruce Highway, Sarina, QLD 4737

Free Entry

The Lowdown

The Big Cane Toad in Sarina is one of Queensland's quirkiest roadside attractions, standing proudly at 2.4 meters tall as a tongue-in-cheek tribute to one of Australia's most notorious introduced species. Located at the Sarina Tourist Art and Craft Centre, this oversized amphibian has become an unexpected symbol of the region's sense of humor about the cane toad invasion that began in 1935. The sculpture captures the distinctive warty appearance and characteristic squat pose of the cane toad with remarkable accuracy, though at a considerably larger scale. Visitors can pose for photos with this controversial creature and learn about the history of cane toads in Australia at the nearby information centre, which tells the story of how these creatures were introduced to control cane beetles but ended up becoming an ecological disaster.

Did you know?

"Sarina is located in the heart of sugar cane country, making the cane toad connection particularly relevant"

History

The Big Cane Toad was erected in 1988 as part of Sarina's efforts to create a unique roadside attraction that would capture the attention of travelers along the Bruce Highway. The choice of a cane toad was both ironic and fitting for Queensland, where the introduced amphibian has become an unofficial symbol of human interference in nature gone wrong. Cane toads were introduced to Australia in 1935 to control cane beetles in the sugar cane fields, but they quickly became an invasive species. The Big Cane Toad serves as a humorous reminder of this environmental lesson while providing a popular photo stop for tourists traveling between Mackay and Rockhampton.

More Fun Facts

•Cane toads were first released in Queensland in 1935, and their population has since exploded to over 200 million
•The Big Cane Toad is one of the only monuments in the world celebrating an invasive pest species
•Real cane toads can grow up to 23cm in length, making the Big Cane Toad roughly 10 times life size
•Sarina is located in the heart of sugar cane country, making the cane toad connection particularly relevant
•The sculpture was originally created by local artists as a tongue-in-cheek tourism attraction

Visiting Tips

💡The Big Cane Toad is perfect for a quick 15-minute photo stop when traveling the Bruce Highway
💡Visit the adjacent Sarina Tourist Art and Craft Centre for locally made products and souvenirs
💡Combine your visit with a stop at the Sarina Sugar Shed to learn about sugar production
💡Bring insect repellent during summer months as the real cane toads are quite active in the area
💡The best photos are taken in the morning when the sun illuminates the front of the sculpture