Height
7.9 meters
Year Built
2003
Address
Butler Street, Tully, QLD 4854
The Lowdown
The Big Gumboot in Tully celebrates the town's proudest (and wettest) claim to fame - being one of the wettest places in Australia. This enormous Wellington boot stands as a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the essential footwear needed to survive in a town that receives over 4 meters of rainfall in some years. The golden gumboot also commemorates Tully's friendly rivalry with nearby Babinda over which town truly deserves the title of 'wettest in Australia.' A gauge on the boot tracks the annual rainfall, allowing visitors to see just how sodden the town has become each year. The Big Gumboot invites visitors to embrace the rain and discover the lush rainforests and waterfalls that all this water creates.
Did you know?
"The region's sugar cane loves all this rain"
History
The Big Gumboot was erected in 2003 to celebrate Tully's status as one of Australia's wettest towns. The rivalry with Babinda over the 'wettest town' title has continued for decades, with both towns proudly claiming the honor depending on which year's statistics you use. The gumboot includes a rainfall gauge that tracks the annual accumulation, letting visitors see exactly how wet Tully has been.
More Fun Facts
- •Tully receives an average of 4,089mm of rain per year
- •The wettest year on record was 7,900mm (7.9 meters!) in 1950
- •The gumboot is 7.9 meters tall - matching Tully's record rainfall
- •Tully and Babinda have a friendly rivalry over the 'wettest town' title
- •The region's sugar cane loves all this rain
Visiting Tips
- 💡Check the rainfall gauge to see how wet it's been this year
- 💡Pack an umbrella - you'll probably need it!
- 💡Nearby Tully Gorge offers excellent white water rafting
- 💡The region's rainforests are lush and spectacular
- 💡Mission Beach is a short drive away for tropical beaches
Opening Hours
The Big Gumboot can be viewed at any time.
More Big Things Nearby
Big Barramundi
A 6-metre long fibreglass barramundi celebrating Normanton's status as the 'Barramundi Capital of Australia'.
Big Golden Gumboot
A 7.9-metre tall golden fibreglass gumboot celebrating Tully as one of Australia's wettest towns.
Big Lizzie
Australia's largest traction engine at Red Cliffs, VIC, a working piece of pioneering history.