Height
14 meters
Year Built
1989
Address
Western Highway, Dadswells Bridge, VIC 3385
The Lowdown
The Giant Koala at Dadswells Bridge is Australia's largest koala sculpture, standing an impressive 14 meters tall and watching over travelers on the Western Highway between Melbourne and Adelaide. This enormous eucalyptus-loving marsupial has welcomed road-trippers for decades, its sheer size making it visible from kilometers away across the flat Wimmera landscape. The Giant Koala sits at a wildlife park where visitors can meet real koalas and native Australian animals, combining the kitsch appeal of a Big Thing with genuine wildlife encounters. For generations of Australian children, the Giant Koala has marked the beginning of adventure on the long drive to South Australia or the excitement of nearing home on the return journey.
Did you know?
"Koalas eat only eucalyptus leaves - about 1kg per day"
History
The Giant Koala was built in 1989 by sculptor Ben Van Zetten, who also created the Big Penguin in Penguin, Tasmania. Standing 14 meters tall, it became an instant landmark on the Western Highway. The attached wildlife park has been offering koala encounters and native animal experiences for decades, combining roadside attraction novelty with genuine wildlife conservation education.
More Fun Facts
- •At 14 meters, this is Australia's largest koala sculpture
- •Real koalas sleep up to 22 hours per day
- •Koalas aren't bears - they're marsupials
- •The Giant Koala was built by Ben Van Zetten, who also made the Big Penguin
- •Koalas eat only eucalyptus leaves - about 1kg per day
Visiting Tips
- 💡Pay for the wildlife park to meet real koalas up close
- 💡Perfect rest stop between Melbourne and Adelaide
- 💡The Grampians National Park is nearby for bushwalking
- 💡Koala encounters are available at the wildlife park
- 💡Stock up on snacks and stretch your legs
Opening Hours
Wildlife park hours. The Giant Koala is visible from outside 24/7.
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.