600+ BIG Things Australia Map & Checklist (Printable) |

What is it about Big Things that us folk in Australia are so fascinated with?

It may have all begun with a handful of obscure sculptures in the mid 1900’s, but now, moving into the next century, there are well over 600 Big Things spotted around Australia!

Even some of the smallest towns have been known to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars putting their village on the map by installing a quirky, gigantic sculpture.

Big Things Australia give travellers a reason to stop, stretch their legs and have a look at something unique and unusual, which often leads to tourist dollars being spent in their town.

If you’re keen to embark on your own Big Things tour, check out the Big Things Australia map and checklists below. Each state has it’s own printable list with full street addresses and tick boxes, so that you’re armed and ready to go on your adventure.

For packing tips, check out our road trip checklist with over 120 items.

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Big Things Australia Map

Below is the complete Big Things Australia map with over 600 items listed.

As Big Things are often associated with businesses, their existence and whereabouts can sometimes be a bit fluid. If you’re aware of any Big Thing changes, removals or additions, feel free to drop a comment down below so that I can update the Big Things Australia map for everyone.

How to Use the Interactive Map Below:
1. Click ‘View larger map’ (top right corner) to access the state-by-state informational column
2. Click, drag & zoom to move the map around
3. Click on each ‘Big Thing’ in the left-hand bar to access individual information

Big Things Australia

Big Gumboot, Tully — *BIG Golden Gumboot, Tully QLD*

What are Big Things?

A Big Thing is basically an oversized sculpture, generally attached to or associated with a business. They’re quite often a humorous exaggeration of something that is endemic to the local town or region.

Big Things Australia can be anything from an everyday trinket to a native animal, something of historical significance or even a commodity that is produced locally.

What was the first Big Thing in Australia

It all started back in 1964 with the BIG Banana in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales. The gigantic piece of fruit was erected to promote a banana stall and is famously known as the first Big Thing in Australia.

Or… was it? 🤔

That’s what popular belief would have you think, but in fact the Big Banana wasn’t actually the first Big Thing in Australia. The BIG Scotsman in South Australia is the true owner of that title.

Paul Kelly is the guy who designed ‘Scotty’ back in 1963 to promote Scotty’s Motel (known as the Comfort Inn these days). He stands 5 metres tall on the corner of Nottage Terrace and Main North Road in Medindie, Adelaide.

That makes the BIG Scotsman older than the BIG Banana by just one year!

Interestingly, Paul Kelly also went on to create the BIG Lobster in Kingston, South Australia.

Big Things Facts & Stats

Looking at the results of surveys carried out by Wotif, it’s easy to see that Big Things in Australia are still as popular as ever!

BIG Things Stats:

90% of Australians have visited a Big Thing at some stage
The average traveller has seen at least 5 Big Things in Australia
39% of people will travel out of their way to see a Big Thing
47% are more likely to spend time in an area with a Big Thing
2 in 3 tourists are happy to see other local attractions in a town that has a Big Thing
60% of travellers will stop if they see a Big Thing on the highway
80% of people reckon that Big Things are “uniquely Australian”
40% of Aussies wish there were more Big Things to visit

Big Things Australia Road Trip

Years ago, back in 2009, I found myself at the famous Big Prawn. Back then it was still on top of the transit centre roof in Ballina, NSW. So, of course, I got the obligatory snap with my mobile phone. These days the Big Prawn has relocated and now sits alongside the Bunnings car park (still in Ballina).

But that did get me thinking… wouldn’t it be cool to do a road trip of Big Things and create an album dedicated to them all. Those were still the days of printing out photos and actually putting them into physical albums… I know, old school, right!

Fast forward to 2017 when I’d hit the road full-time and was travelling through Gayndah in rural Queensland. Remembering that that’s where the Big Orange lived, we pulled in to have a look and get a photo.

A few months later I met a family in Barcaldine who were midway through one of their annual Big Things Australia road trips. Yep, there are actually people out there who do this!

You see, they plan their holidays each year purely around finding new Big Things that they haven’t yet discovered. On this particular road trip they were doing 6 weeks around Queensland (from the Coast to the Outback) with over 100 Big Things on their hit list.

They were fascinating to talk to and really inspired me. Challenge accepted!

I decided to make a solid effort to uncover as many Big Things as I could around the country throughout my own travels.

And so it began… The Great Australian Big Things Hunt!

COMPLETE Big Things Australia Checklist

600+ BIG Things to find around Australia!

Here you will find the complete set of Big Things Australia checklists totalling over 600 items.

You can either purchase each state’s checklist individually or you can buy the bundle, depending on your personal travel plans.

Each printable checklist includes the full street address and associated businesses to help you locate each Big Thing.

BIG Thing Checklist Inclusions:

MAP of each State or Territory, illustrating the different regions
STREET ADDRESSES with adjoining business for each Big Thing
CHECKBOXES to tick off each Big Thing
DATE & PHOTO boxes to tick off & record when you capture each Big Thing
SPACE to record any extra finds along the way

Here’s what’s you get…

🗺 STATE Regional Maps

The regional map for each state or territory will help you to locate the Big Things within each area that you’re travelling through.

✔️ TICK off each region as you complete it

📍 FULL Street Addresses

Each Big Thing has a full street address provided as well as any adjacent businesses or landmarks to help locate the item.

All addresses are categorised into regions

🙌 TICK off your finds

As you collect each Big Thing, get the obligatory photo, then tick it off the list!

✔️ TICK off your finds
✔️ TICK once you’ve captured each photo
✔️ RECORD the date that you find each Big Thing

📝 RECORD extra finds

If you happen upon extra Big Things throughout your travels that aren’t on the list, use the spare spaces to record them.

⬇️ 7 Checklists

(One for each State and Territory)

🔹 Pre-filled with 600+ Aussie Big Things
🔹 State-by-state Regional Maps
🔹 Full street addresses
🔹 Adjacent businesses/ landmarks
🔹 DIGITAL (interactive on your device)
🔹 PRINTABLE (print hard copies if you prefer)
🔹 BONUS Checklists for common finds

Complete Australian BIG Things Checklist!

$34.95 AUD

Individual State & Territory checklists below ↓