AusLeisure

Honouring the nation’s love of ‘Big Things’, the Royal Australian Mint has today launched its latest $1 coin collection featuring some of the nation’s best known tourism icons, including The Big Pineapple, The Big Jumping Crocodile, The Big Banana, Big Swoop and The Big Lobster.

Available through Australia Post and the Royal Australian Mint’s outlets from this week, the collectable coins are paying homage to 10 of Australia’s Big Things.

According to Australia Post research, almost 90% of the population have visited at least one of around 1,000 ‘Big Things’ scattered across the country at some point.

Introducing the collection, Australia Post General Manager Retail Product and Supply Chain, Kayla Le Cornu advised “our ‘Big Things’ are colourful, entertaining and truly make their mark in so many local communities across Australia.”

Advising that Australia’s ‘Big Things’ are loved by all, Federal Assistant Minister for Charities, Competition and Treasury Andrew Leigh noted “whether it’s The Big Banana, The Big Pineapple, or Canberra’s very own Big Swoop, the best ‘Big Things’ celebrate the character of our communities and give visitors a reason to smile and pop in for a visit.

“While the Mint’s ‘Big Things’ coins may be of standard size, the memories they evoke loom large.”

The Australia Post research revealed the three most important factors people value for a good ‘Big Things’ visit - size, condition and lots to do onsite.

University of Sunshine Coast lecturer and expert on Australia’s ‘Big Things’, Dr Amy Clarke added “’Big Things’ can be a one-trick pony if there isn’t something else to do onsite. Once you’ve got a photo, the chances of going back are low, unless there’s plenty of additional fun to be had.

“And while people often associate ‘Big Things’ with the 1980s, when a lot of them were built, we’re still building more ‘Big Things’ today.”

Australia Post’s research also found some specific requests for new Big Things, including:

• A big black swan in Perth
• A big gold nugget or pan in Ballarat
• A big surfboard on the Gold Coast
• A big quokka on Rottnest Island in Western Australia
• A big football or a big coffee in Melbourne
• A big Tassie tiger for Tasmania

The full ‘Big Things’ coin collection includes:

• The Big Pineapple - Sunshine Coast, Queensland
• The Big Banana - Coffs Harbour, NSW
• Giant Koala - Dadswell Bridge, Victoria
• Big Tasmanian Devil - Mole Creek, Tasmania
• Big Blue Heeler - Muswellbrook, NSW
• Big Jumping Croc - Wak Wak, Northern Territory
• The Big Lobster - Kingston, South Australia
• Giant Ram - Wagin, Western Australia
• Giant Murray Cod - Swan Hill, Victoria
• Big Swoop - Canberra, ACT

Stamps collection: Big Tasmanian Devil, Giant Murray Cod, Big Swoop, Big Jumping Crocodile, and the Giant Koala.

Main image courtesy of Australia Post.

Related Articles

28th December 2022 - Coffs Harbour’s Big Banana lodges plan for new toboggan ride

15th December 2022 - Big Banana Fun Park prepares to open long-awaited waterpark expansion

23rd June 2022 - New Shareholders and Directors to drive expansion of Coffs Harbour’s The Big Banana

24th November 2020 - Gold Coast’s Big Octopus is Australia’s newest ‘Big Thing’

12th December 2019 - Sunshine Coast unveils million-dollar renewal project for the Big Pineapple

18th June 2019 - Australian sport stadia honoured in new postage stamp series

29th May 2019 - The Big Pineapple attraction set to receive multi-million dollar upgrade

2nd August 2018 - Uluru ‘big thing’ destroyed by fire

15th October 2017 - Uncertain future for Australia’s ageing ‘big things’

25th June 2017 - South Australia’s Larry the Lobster ‘big thing’ up for sale

18th March 2017 - Australia’s Big Things go green for St Patrick’s Day

18th June 2016 - Australian Paralympic Committee partners with Royal Australian Mint

18th September 2015 - Jamberoo Action Park achieves world record for Australia’s newest ‘Big Thing’

16th August 2015 - Australia urged to embrace its iconic ‘big things’

24th June 2015 - Australia Post agrees Netball World Cup 2015 partnership

17th December 2012 - Royal Australian Mint revs up for Summernats visitors

17th July 2012 - Survey reveals Australia’s favourite ‘big things’

18th November 2009 - Ballina’s Big Prawn Set for Demolition

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.