The Big Kookaburra
Height
3.5 meters
Year Built
2002
Address
Lang Street, Kurri Kurri, NSW 2327
The Lowdown
The Big Kookaburra in Kurri Kurri celebrates one of Australia's most beloved birds - the laughing kookaburra whose distinctive call has become synonymous with the Australian bush. This impressive sculpture captures the kookaburra's stocky form, prominent beak, and characteristic pose as it surveys its territory. The laughing kookaburra's 'laugh' - actually a territorial call - has been used in countless movies and TV shows to evoke the Australian outdoors, making it arguably the most recognized bird call in the world. Kurri Kurri's kookaburra joins the town's remarkable collection of murals and sculptures that have transformed this former mining town into an outdoor art gallery.
Did you know?
"They kill prey by bashing it against a branch or rock"
History
The Big Kookaburra was installed in 2002 as part of Kurri Kurri's remarkable transformation from struggling mining town to tourist destination through public art. The town boasts over 50 murals depicting Australian wildlife, history, and culture, with the Big Kookaburra serving as one of its most photographed landmarks. Real kookaburras are common in the surrounding bushland, serenading the town at dawn and dusk.
More Fun Facts
- •The laughing kookaburra's call is used as stock 'jungle' sound in Hollywood movies
- •Kookaburras eat snakes, including venomous ones
- •They kill prey by bashing it against a branch or rock
- •The 'laugh' is actually a territorial call performed by family groups
- •Kookaburras are the largest members of the kingfisher family
Visiting Tips
- 💡Walk the Kurri Kurri Mural Trail to see 50+ outdoor artworks
- 💡Listen for real kookaburras - they're common in the area
- 💡The Hunter Valley wineries are nearby for tastings
- 💡Visit during the Nostalgia Festival for vintage car displays
- 💡The town has classic Australian bakeries and pubs
Opening Hours
The Big Kookaburra can be viewed at any time.
More Big Things Nearby
Big Apple (Tallong)
The Big Apple in Tallong, NSW, is a hyper-realistic fibreglass apple sculpture built in 1988 by Carl Zeschke, celebrating the region's rich apple-growing heritage dating back to the 1900s.
Big Barramundi
A 6-metre long fibreglass barramundi celebrating Normanton's status as the 'Barramundi Capital of Australia'.
Big Cow
A large cow sculpture located in Highfields, Queensland, celebrating the region's dairy farming heritage.