The Big Fish In Wanguri
Students at Wanguri Primary School, north of Darwin, have a regular first-hand encounter with the Big Fish located at the school’s perfectly manicured front yard.
Outsiders can only capture the sight of the colourful barramundi through the school’s fence because of the premise’s security restrictions. .
The construction of the Big Fish in Wanguri began in 2009. One of Australia’s renowned Big Things artist, Techy Masero, was responsible for sculpting this gigantic fish. Masero is also known for sculpting Colin the Turtle and George the Croc.
The artist used steel for the sculpture’s frame and cement to build its body. Later, the locals teamed up with art students to paint the tiles covering the fish and created a colourful pattern depicting the scales, fins, and body.
The completed job was unveiled in 2010 at the school’s compound.
The enormous barramundi was a thoughtful idea to celebrate and educate the learners about the local Larrakia and Wanguri people. These two communities had a rich culture and a strong relationship with the sea. In fact, the Larrakia people are referred to as the “Saltwater People“.
Other Big Barramundis in Australia
Australia is home to several Big Things inspired by the barramundi fish. Some good examples include:
- Big Barramundi in Katherine, Northern Territory.
- Big Barramundi in Normanton, Queensland.
- Big Barramundi in Daintree, Queensland.
You can read more about Australia’s Big Barramundi sculptures here.
The Big Fish in Wanguri is relatively smaller than her cousins, although it is the most colourful of them all.
In Australia, the barramundi fish is sometimes referred to as the “Passion Fish” because of an old tale about two young lovers, Boodi and Yalima. The two lovers’ relationship was prohibited because Yalima was betrothed to an older man she was not interested in.
In a twist of events, the two lovers fought for their love to the depths of the sea, literally. Read more of this tale in the Big Barramundi article.
