The Big Pigeon is one of the latest additions to the list of the Big Things of Australia. The mirrored stainless steel sculpture was designed by South Australian artist Paul Sloan and installed near the entrance to the Rundle Mall Adelaide in November 2020. The pigeon sculpture measures two metres tall and cost around AUD 174,000.
Unveiled by the City of Adelaide, the giant pigeon structure pays tribute to the flock of pigeons that reside in the city. But it is not the only attraction at the mall – the building is home to two big silver balls, four pigs and a fountain dating back to the 1880s.
Why The Big Pigeon Was Constructed
According to the Rundle Mall Management Authority (RMMA), the giant pigeon statue was created to bring more attention to the mall. At the time, the city was battling the Covid-19 pandemic, which had discouraged the locals from shopping at malls and other crowded places.
Other Big Things of Australia Inspired By Birds
The Big Pigeon in Adelaide is not the only bird-inspired Big Thing in South Australia. In Kimba, you will find The Big Galah, a giant monument of the bird. Measuring 8 metres high and 2.5 metres wide, the larger-than-life bird sculpture represents the galahs that frequent the region.
You will also find two big pelicans, one in Loxton and another in Meningie. The Big Pelican in Loxton originally served as a float for a local Mardi Gras in 1979. It was then remodelled and coated with fibreglass before retiring at the Loxton Caravan Park in 1992.
The Big Pelican in Meningie is relatively new compared to the one in Loxton. The Meningie pelican was carved from a single tree and unveiled in 2015. The top part of the sculpture represents a pelican facing back, while the bottom section depicts an indigenous and a European child holding a fish together. The sculpture now sits at Jubilee Park, off the Princes Highway.
Map
[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m14!1m8!1m3!1d6356.4356716555085!2d138.59949113290344!3d-34.92284250439077!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x0%3A0xd8a2d61eb8b9fcf5!2sPigeon%20Sculpture!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sau!4v1675396510354!5m2!1sen!2sau&w=600&h=450]Video of The Big Pigeon
