The Big Spider
Height
Unknown
Year Built
Address
Urana, NSW 2645
The Lowdown
The Big Spider crawls up the Urana water tower in southern New South Wales, creating one of Australia's most creative and slightly unsettling Big Things. This enormous arachnid appears to be scaling the town's water tower, its legs splayed across the structure in a display of giant spider ambition. Urana is a small farming town in the Riverina, and the Big Spider has become its most photographed landmark, drawing travellers off the Newell Highway to marvel at this audacious piece of public art. For those who love spiders or fear them, the Big Spider makes an unforgettable impression against the flat Riverina landscape.
Did you know?
"The Urana water tower spider appears to be climbing up the structure"
History
Urana was established in the 1870s as a service town for the surrounding sheep and wheat properties. Like many small Riverina towns, Urana sought creative ways to attract passing travellers and put itself on the map. The installation of the Big Spider on the water tower transformed an ordinary piece of infrastructure into a must-see attraction. Water tower art has become increasingly popular in rural Australia, but Urana's spider remains one of the most dramatic and memorable examples, drawing visitors who might otherwise drive straight past.
More Fun Facts
- •Australia has some of the world's most venomous spiders, including the funnel-web and redback
- •The Urana water tower spider appears to be climbing up the structure
- •Water tower art has become a popular way for small towns to attract tourists
- •Urana's population is under 300 people but the spider draws thousands of visitors
- •The Riverina is one of NSW's most productive agricultural regions
Visiting Tips
- 💡The spider is best viewed from the main road through town
- 💡Combine with other Riverina Big Things like the Big Rocking Horse
- 💡Urana is a short detour from the Newell Highway
- 💡The flat landscape makes the spider visible from a distance
Opening Hours
Outdoor sculpture visible at all times.
More Big Things Nearby
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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.