Height
4 meters
Year Built
1994
Address
Warrego Highway, Chinchilla, QLD 4413
The Lowdown
The Big Watermelon in Chinchilla celebrates the town's status as Australia's watermelon capital, producing a massive proportion of the nation's summer favorite. This refreshing sculpture features an enormous slice of watermelon, complete with juicy red flesh, white rind, and scattered black seeds, capturing the sweet refreshment that makes watermelon synonymous with Australian summers. The Darling Downs' rich black soil and warm climate create perfect conditions for growing sweet, juicy melons, and Chinchilla has embraced its agricultural heritage with the biennial Melon Festival, featuring melon skiing, melon bungee, and the iconic melon chariot races.
Did you know?
"A watermelon once weighed in at 159kg - the world record"
History
The Big Watermelon was erected in 1994 to celebrate Chinchilla's watermelon industry, which began in earnest in the 1950s. The town produces watermelons from November to April, with peak season in January and February. The Chinchilla Melon Festival, held every two years since 1994, celebrates the crop with quirky events including melon skiing (being towed behind a vehicle while standing on watermelons) and melon chariot races.
More Fun Facts
- •Chinchilla produces about 25% of Australia's watermelons
- •The Melon Festival features 'melon skiing' - standing on melons while being towed
- •Watermelon is 92% water, making it perfect for Australian summers
- •China produces more watermelons than the rest of the world combined
- •A watermelon once weighed in at 159kg - the world record
Visiting Tips
- 💡Time your visit for the Chinchilla Melon Festival for maximum fun
- 💡Buy fresh watermelon from roadside stalls during summer
- 💡Chinchilla is on the Warrego Highway - a good break point heading west
- 💡The town also has significant gas industry tours available
- 💡Great Instagram photo opportunity with the colorful sculpture
Opening Hours
The Big Watermelon can be viewed at any time.
More Big Things Nearby
Big Barramundi
A 6-metre long fibreglass barramundi celebrating Normanton's status as the 'Barramundi Capital of Australia'.
Big Golden Gumboot
A 7.9-metre tall golden fibreglass gumboot celebrating Tully as one of Australia's wettest towns.
Big Mango
A 10-meter tall, 7-tonne fibreglass tribute to Bowen's mango industry, famously 'stolen' by Nando's in 2014 for a viral marketing campaign.