Height
3 meters
Year Built
1995
Address
Albert Street, Windorah, QLD 4481
The Lowdown
The Big Yabby in Windorah pays tribute to the freshwater crayfish that have sustained Indigenous Australians and settlers alike in the Channel Country for thousands of years. This bright blue sculpture captures the distinctive claws, antennae, and segmented body of the Australian yabby, a beloved crustacean found in rivers, dams, and waterholes across inland Australia. Windorah sits in the heart of the Channel Country, where the Thomson and Barcoo Rivers meet to form Cooper Creek - waterways that fill with yabbies after the rains. The Big Yabby celebrates the simple pleasure of yabbying, a quintessential Australian bush activity that has brought families together for generations.
Did you know?
"Yabbying is a popular Australian pastime - tie meat on a string and wait for the claw pinch"
History
The Big Yabby was erected in 1995 to give travelers through this remote outback town a memorable landmark. Windorah has a population of just over 100 people, but serves as an important stop for travelers exploring the Channel Country and visiting nearby locations like the famous Birdsville. The sculpture celebrates the yabbies that thrive in the region's waterways after flooding rains.
More Fun Facts
- •Yabbies can survive buried in mud for years, waiting for water to return
- •Australian yabbies have been introduced to Europe and Africa for aquaculture
- •Yabbying is a popular Australian pastime - tie meat on a string and wait for the claw pinch
- •Yabbies are called different names around Australia: crawchies, crays, lobbies
- •Windorah has the southernmost licensed pub in the Channel Country
Visiting Tips
- 💡Windorah is very remote - ensure your vehicle is roadworthy and carry extra water and fuel
- 💡The Western Star Hotel is a classic outback pub worth visiting
- 💡Combine with a trip to Birdsville for the ultimate outback adventure
- 💡The annual Birdsville Races in September draw crowds to the region
- 💡Channel Country sunsets are spectacular - stay for golden hour photos
Opening Hours
The Big Yabby can be viewed at any time in this outback town.
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.