Big Ned Kelly - Apparently tourists like big things
Glenrowan is a town famously associated with bushranger Ned Kelly remembered for his homemade armour. His last shoot out with police and capture was here. Some consider him to be no more than a criminal, for others he is a folk hero a symbol or Irish-Australian resistance. No matter what, Glenrowan has a tourist industry of museums, displays, souvenirs and this big Ned.
One thing the road trip has shown me many "big things" big galah, big lobster and so on. Nearer to home is a big marino ram, from childhood holidays I remember big pineapples (big enough to go inside to an upstairs viewing level) big bananas, big prawns, house of bottles house of shells and more. Some of these big things are co-located wit a road-house service station, luring mum and dad to pause the road trip and get fuel while he kids can explore the wonder of the region through these large items, then demand theme memorabilia, as well as food and ice cream.
Through my childhood eyes I recall the wonder at these attractions. Some are wonderful, some are crappy - craptastic even, some are kitsch, some are just very run down, worn out and have seen better days (about 20-30 years ago). I have a soft spot for these things, but no illusions, some are spectacular, some craptacular.
Haha, I totally get what you mean. Haven't done enough traveling to see all these things myself but I love things like this. They certainly capture a slice of a different time and place!
Really nice shot, I like the muted tones and the buildings in the background to give a sense of scale to this big guy. Interesting about the homemade armor too.
I remember spending a lovely afternoon at the Big Pineapple with you in 88 or 89, stuffing our faces with mango parfaits...that was certainly not crap. But otherwise the 'big' things are a little in-crap-credible, even for boguns like me ;o)
Ned is not someone I have any knowledge of, clearly not a folk figure to make it cross the pond. I took a trip through the Canadian Rockies a couple years ago with the boys; stopped for a giant truck and a dinosaur who you can walk up into to view the countryside...
Nice shot! Brought back my memories of visiting Glenrowan and the Big Merino (which I thought actually looked quite scary - but not as bad as the big Koala!)
I love our Big things, and I have been to all mentioned in this thread except for Ned here. One of my school teachers, it was his Great Grandfather Police Contsable Steele that was responsible for the shot that brought Ned down. A shot to his leg did the trick.
One big thing that always gets missed and is arguably the best, is the Big Rocking Horse at Gumeracha.
@brizmako - I opted for a Pineapple Parfait in 1983 and a ride in the Macadamia Nut Train. Same carriage that Charles and Di sat in.
@bobfoto I'm pretty sure I had a pineapple parfait too. I know I definitely had one on my first visit there when I was in grade 6 on a family holiday and stayed at Perigian Beach caravan park.
I want to take more big thing photos now, they will be on the must shoot list for any holiday (as will be ugly motel rooms) I have such a soft spot for big things.
@lbmcshutter - we stayed at Mermaid Beach. Nambour and that pineapple was the furthest North I had travelled as a kid, later I would fly to Alice Springs and then later still I would drive to Townsville. Good times... good times.
We have a big carrot, big LnP bottle and at least one big crayfish and several big kiwis to mention a few in NZ...quirky for sure. He is huge and imposing though!
December 17th, 2011
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Really nice shot, I like the muted tones and the buildings in the background to give a sense of scale to this big guy. Interesting about the homemade armor too.
my daughter was terrified of the giant sheep in Goulburn, she used to have nightmares and wake up yelling 'big sheep''!
One big thing that always gets missed and is arguably the best, is the Big Rocking Horse at Gumeracha.
@brizmako - I opted for a Pineapple Parfait in 1983 and a ride in the Macadamia Nut Train. Same carriage that Charles and Di sat in.
I want to take more big thing photos now, they will be on the must shoot list for any holiday (as will be ugly motel rooms) I have such a soft spot for big things.