The Big Hills Hoist
META: Read more about the Big Hills Hoist in O’Sullivan Beach, one of the most recognizable Big Things of Australia.
The Big Hills Hoist is located at the corner of Morrow Road and O’Sullivan Beach Road, South Australia next to the Orrcon Steel car park. Hills Hoists are common in many backyards in Australia and New Zealand. In fact, they are some of the most recognizable icons in Australia.
The Hills Hoist aside, South Australia is home to several other iconic Big Things you will love exploring or reading about. Here are some great examples:
In Border Village, there’s a massive kangaroo sculpture nicknamed Rooey II. Measuring approximately five metres tall, the structure is made from fibreglass and surrounded by a steel frame.
Then there’s The Big Lobster in Rosetown that will definitely send chills down your spine. This huge lobster structure measures 17 metres high. It’s believed that Paul Kelly, the designer, misinterpreted the initial measurements from feet to metres, hence the massive size.
Kelly is also the same designer who built The Big Scotsman, one of the oldest Big Things of Australia. The five-metre Scotsman statue, nicknamed Scotty, stands outside the Scott’s Motel at the corner of Main North Road and Nottage Terrace in Medindie.
Like the Big Scotsman, The Big Santa, also known as Father Christmas, stands outside Grote Street tower, wearing a massive smile. The enormous structure was built in 1900 and weighs approximately three tonnes.
South Australia never seems to run out of oversized sculptures depicting almost anything you can think of. In Gumeracha, you’ll find The Big Rocking Horse, an 18-metre tall rocking horse sculpture. Weighing over 25 tonnes, this steel structure comes with three viewing platforms to provide a panoramic view of the surrounding area.
Speaking of viewing platforms, you’ll also love The Big Orange in Berri, an oversized replica of an orange measuring 15 metres high and 12 metres wide. It weighs 85 tonnes and comes with four levels – the fourth level serves as a lookout.
