AusLeisure

A well known ‘big thing’ on the Pacific Highway north of Newcastle, resembling Uluru, was destroyed in a fire early yesterday morning.

Fire ripped through The Rock Roadhouse near Hawks Nest on the NSW mid-north coast and the 10 metre high Uluru replica - a site popular with passing motorists - is now no more.

Inspector Ben Shepherd from the NSW Rural Fire Service said 18 crews were fighting the fire and ensuring it did not spread to nearby petrol bowsers.

Shepherd told the ABC"it is a local landmark and it is well known by many who travel that route, but unfortunately the structure has been completely destroyed by fire.”

The 1/40 Uluru replica was built for the Leyland Brothers World amusement park in the late 1980s. However, since the attraction closed in the 1992, the ‘big thing’, located next to a service station, has merely been a visual attraction.

Shepherd told the ABC "it is a local landmark and it is well known by many who travel that route, but unfortunately the structure has been completely destroyed by fire.”

Co-creator Mal Leyland said he was devastated that his the attraction was no more, advising "I put it behind me many years ago when we lost it (the amusement park) to the banks, and you think it's dead and buried back in the memory somewhere 20-odd years ago, but nah it's not the case.

"All of our money went down the gurgler when we lost it, so I had a strong emotional attachment and I feel quite devastated even though we had no connection with it now."

In recent years the building was used as a service station and the broader site hosted up to 45,000 school students a year on bush camping excursions

Image: The Uluru replica was built in the late 1980s as part of the Leylands Brothers World amusement park. Courtesy of Wiki.

Related Articles

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

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

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

21st February 2014 - Fire destroys remnants of former Old Sydney Town attraction

15th July 2009 - Celebrating Big Things

---

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.