Height
5 meters
Year Built
1990
Address
Midland Highway, Chorleywood, VIC 3858
The Lowdown
The Big Rocking Chair celebrates Australian furniture craftsmanship and the tradition of hand-made wooden furniture that has been part of rural Australia since colonial times. This massive rocking chair, large enough for visitors to sit in, represents the skill of Australian woodworkers who turned the nation's unique timbers into beautiful and functional furniture. Rocking chairs have a special place in Australian homes, representing relaxation on the veranda, keeping cool before air conditioning, and the simple pleasures of country life. The Big Rocking Chair invites visitors to take a seat, rock gently, and imagine a simpler time when the creak of a rocking chair was the soundtrack of lazy afternoons.
Did you know?
"Benjamin Franklin is credited with inventing the rocking chair in America"
History
The Big Rocking Chair was built around 1990 to celebrate Australian furniture craftsmanship and attract visitors to the area. Rocking chairs have been popular in Australian homes since colonial times, often made from local timbers like Huon pine, blackwood, and various eucalypts. The Big Rocking Chair continues this tradition on a massive scale.
More Fun Facts
- •Rocking chairs were believed to relieve stress and improve circulation
- •Benjamin Franklin is credited with inventing the rocking chair in America
- •Australian rocking chairs were often made from prized Huon pine from Tasmania
- •The motion of rocking chairs was traditionally used to calm babies
- •Some studies suggest rocking chairs can help with balance and blood pressure
Visiting Tips
- 💡Climb up and rock back and forth - it's sturdier than it looks!
- 💡Great photo opportunity, especially with kids
- 💡The surrounding Gippsland countryside is beautiful
- 💡Nearby furniture shops may have locally made pieces for sale
- 💡Explore the Gippsland food and wine trail
Opening Hours
The Big Rocking Chair can be used at any time.
More Big Things Nearby
Big Lizzie
Australia's largest traction engine at Red Cliffs, VIC, a working piece of pioneering history.
Big Ned Kelly
A 6-meter tall fibreglass statue of Australia's most famous bushranger, standing guard over the historic township where Ned Kelly made his last stand.
Giant Koala
A 14-meter tall bronze and fibreglass koala weighing 12 tonnes, marking the gateway to the Grampians region on the Western Highway.