Bloggytalk has been of landmarks from Paris to Belfast, the beautiful and the bizarre. At least the Europeans do it with a modicum of taste and panache even if it does look like an oversized sewing kneedle or a giant ferris wheel. In Australia, good taste gives way to ‘big’ things. Despite having a perfectly respectable Harbour Bridge (The Coathanger), Anzac Bridge (Madonna's Bra aka Jean Paul Gautier) and the Opera House, we have more arse than class. We are the masters of tack, kitch, the underdone and the overwhelming. Here are some of our more notable landmarks for your perusal and entertainment. Unlike the Americans, we do things by half measures and they don't quite measure up. Why commission a master in fibreglass moulding when a bit of papier mache will do?
My personal favourite is the Big Merino, currently undergoing a move from Goulburn in south west NSW because it has been bypassed by the new freeway and visitors no longer stop to find out how Australia got rich off the sheep's back. You can walk inside it and take the stairs right up to the head. The sculpture of this magnificent mammal paid meticulous attention to detail even to the point of giving it enormous testicles.
The Big Merino (Bewfuls)
The Big Banana (Tasty)
The Big Pineapple (pointy)
The Big Potato (Looks More like a Rusty Poo!)
The Big Wine Cask (Goon as we affectionately call it)
The Big Beer Can
The Big Gum Boot (complete with Green Tree Frog)
And because we love our anti-heroes . . . The Big Ned Kelly!
Don't you also have a giant fibreglass lobster?
ReplyDeleteI love kitsch. Somewhere, I have a picture of my sister and my oldest child leaning up against a huge lobster in Nova Scotia. And the largest axe in the world, longest covered bridge, and God knows what-all. Good stuff.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm back. Yes, it was a great trip. Yes, I'm tired now. :)
Daz: yep but I couldn't find a decent pic!
ReplyDeleteKate: hey kiddo . . welcome back. I still think the yanks do it so much better. Better theme parks, big things, shopping malls . . .we're the poor relation.
The Ned Kelly would freak the bejeezus out of me. It made me think of the Simpsons episode where all the statues came alive...
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