The Big Pumpkin
Height
Unknown
Year Built
Address
Bruce Highway, Gumlu, QLD 4805
The Lowdown
The Big Pumpkin sits proudly outside a roadside fruit and vegetable store in Gumlu, a small town on the Bruce Highway between Bowen and Ayr in North Queensland. This oversized orange pumpkin shares its home with the Big Watermelon, creating a delightful double feature for Big Things hunters travelling through the region. The roadside store showcases the incredible produce grown in the Burdekin region, one of Australia's most productive agricultural areas thanks to the Burdekin Dam irrigation scheme. From melons and pumpkins to mangoes and tomatoes, this region supplies fresh produce to markets across Australia.
Did you know?
"The Burdekin Dam is one of the largest water storage facilities in Queensland"
History
The Big Pumpkin was installed at the Gumlu roadside fruit stand to celebrate the agricultural bounty of the Burdekin region. This part of North Queensland is one of Australia's premier growing areas, thanks to the vast irrigation infrastructure developed around the Burdekin Dam. The fertile black soil and reliable water supply allow farmers to grow an extraordinary variety of produce, from watermelons and pumpkins to tomatoes, capsicums, and tropical fruits. The Big Pumpkin and its companion Big Watermelon serve as eye-catching advertisements for the fresh produce available inside.
More Fun Facts
- •The Big Pumpkin shares its home with the Big Watermelon
- •The Burdekin region produces over $1 billion worth of agricultural produce annually
- •Gumlu is home to one of Australia's largest watermelon growing operations
- •The Burdekin Dam is one of the largest water storage facilities in Queensland
- •Pumpkins have been cultivated for over 7,500 years
Visiting Tips
- 💡Don't miss the Big Watermelon right next to the pumpkin
- 💡Stock up on fresh produce at the roadside store
- 💡The nearby Big Mango in Bowen is just 20 minutes south
- 💡Ayr to the north has more dining and accommodation options
Opening Hours
Outdoor sculpture accessible at all times. Store has regular trading hours.
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 Cherries - Pages Flat
Giant cherry sculptures at Pages Flat, South Australia, celebrating the Adelaide Hills cherry growing region.