Height
3 meters
Year Built
1995
Address
Main Street, Patchewollock, VIC 3491
The Lowdown
The Big Mallee Fowl at Patchewollock celebrates one of Australia's most remarkable birds - the mallee fowl, which builds enormous mound nests that can reach 5 meters wide and over a meter high. These ground-dwelling birds spend months constructing and maintaining their nests, using decomposing organic matter to incubate their eggs at a constant temperature. The Big Mallee Fowl honors this ingenious species and the mallee woodlands of western Victoria and South Australia where they survive, though in declining numbers due to habitat loss and predation.
Did you know?
"They use decomposing matter to incubate eggs"
History
The Big Mallee Fowl was created to celebrate this remarkable bird and raise awareness of its conservation. Mallee fowl populations have declined significantly due to habitat clearing and introduced predators.
More Fun Facts
- •Mallee fowl mounds can be 5 meters wide
- •They use decomposing matter to incubate eggs
- •Males tend the mound constantly for 9-11 months
- •Chicks are independent from hatching
- •They're sometimes called 'incubator birds'
Visiting Tips
- 💡The Mallee has unique wildlife worth exploring
- 💡Patchewollock is a small farming community
- 💡The Big Mallee Bull at Birchip is nearby
- 💡Support mallee fowl conservation efforts
- 💡Real mallee fowl are difficult to spot
Opening Hours
Outdoor sculpture accessible at all times.
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.