"Big" Australian items

This image needs some explanation for viewers outside Australia. First of all, many Australian country towns have a "Big" statue of their claim to fame - one of the best known is the "Big Pineapple", there also is the "Big Merino" (sheep), and a couple more I'll show from this trip. So, what is a "Bogan"? It's an Australian term for a very unsophisticated and uncultured person - something like a "country bumpkin" or "yokel" in other places. Someone who would prefer to be with his dog and go fishing, as with the statue, rather than attend a concert. Of course, Nyngan happens to be on the Bogan River, so.....! I gather this caused something of a stir locally when it was erected. :-)

Alongside the road to Tamworth, outside the information centre, you will find the Big Golden Guitar, standing 12 metres high. Tamworth bills itself as the home of country music in Australia and, every year, has what it claims is Australia's largest music festival. Here are some of the highlights from the 2023 Festival if you'd care to check the link.

This statue is holding the remains of a Eureka Flag (since the 1853 miners' uprising at Eureka the "go to" flag for protests in Australia - 1st PiP). Forgotten by many, the second largest uprising in Australia was, of all places, set in the little town of Barcaldine in 1891, when the shearers formed a union and refused to take pay cuts imposed by the large pastoralists. There were opposing marches through towns by shearers and the Queensland militia, some wool sheds were burned, and finally the pastoralist-led Queensland government had the strike leaders arrested (see PiPs) while scab labourers were imported from southern states. You can read more about it here, but maybe faster to listen to this song which tells the story. Wishing everyone a Happy Fence Friday and a good weekend.

Charleviile Town Hall in late afternoon light, at the end of a long day's drive (just under 700km). This is slightly out of sequence for my trip, but it's Wednesday and I needed a wall! With that thought, Happy Wall Wednesday, everyone. UPDATE That's not a dinosaur out front, it's a big kangaroo with a hat and camping swag.

Taken at the "Age of Dinosaurs" museum at Winton, this is their recreation of Australovenator wintoniensis , found locally and given the popular name "Banjo". The museum was created some years ago after a local grazier found dinosaur bones and gained support for ongoing searches, research and a public museum. This whole area is/was dinosaur country! Also see PiPs and a Happy Wall Wednesday, everyone.

I have realised that my earlier road train images may not have conveyed their full size. When they're in a side road, or turning from one, that size becomes more apparent. Best viewed large - also see PiP of a double deck cattle truck.

This fascinating structue is a Termite Mound, essentially a giant ant nest. These are found across Australia, though most are not as big as this one, which is the largest along the Plenty Highway. You can read more about them here. My friend and I were travelling in this vehicle.

Also known locally as "the big coathanger", this has defined Sydney since its construction in the 1930s . Taken in the early days of my recent travels. Happy Fence Friday, everyone, and have a safe and enjoyable weekend. I'm updating my posting of this as I have added it to the new group "Australia's Big Things". This may well have been what kicked off the whole "Big...(tourist attraction) thing" which spread nationwide here.

With the "Big Banana" (at Coffs Harbour) the "Big Merino" in Goulburn is probably one of Australia's best known "Big" tourist landmarks. You can read more about it here. I was fortunate that these people decided to pose just when I had the camera ready!