Big things Inland Qld | FindPenguins

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Big things Inland Qld Billy Oaks
The Big Red Elephant - Gatton
February 11, 2000 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
This is the last of the big things, coming all the way from Longreach before getting back to Brisbane. The "Big Red Elephant" is located on one side of the highway and is easily spotted. The location looks different to earlier photos I've seen, I don't know if it got relocated after the floods in 2011 or not, the area was badly affected apparently and sign of this are the roadworks being conducted in an attempt to bring the highway to its former glory.Read more
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Big things Inland Qld Billy Oaks
The Big Sausage - Toowoomba
February 10, 2000 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
Next on the list, coming back to Brisbane is the "Big Sausage King" located in Centenary Heights, Toowoomba. I made to the place following my GPS and the address I found in Wikipedia. This Big Sausage is sitting on top of a convenient store and apparently was stolen during some restoration.Read more
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Big things Inland Qld Billy Oaks
The Big Rig - Roma
February 9, 2000 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C
This is one of the most popular "Big Thing" and it is being looked after. It is an icon in Roma and is part of a Night Show where Oil & Gas exploration in the area from the early beginnings is explained. Unfortunately I was too tired after driving 7 hours from Barcaldine that I missed the show.

The Big Rig is located adjacent the information centre close to the Eastern end of town, hard to be missed.Read more
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Big things Inland Qld Billy Oaks
The Big Nut & Bolt - Roma
February 8, 2000 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C
Following Landsborouh highway then at Moven it turns into Warrego highway, from there another 2 hours and plenty of roadworks to Roma, the main town in the Western Downs region.

The "Big Bolt & Nut" are not easy to spot, I knew roughly where they were using the address in Wikipedia and driving at 40kph. The big thing is located outside Banks bolt & fasteners, just inside their fence.Read more
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Big things Inland Qld Billy Oaks
The Big Ant - Augathella
February 7, 2000 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C
Continuing South on Landsborough highway and a bit over an hour south of Tambo I arrived to Augathella, no much to see in town other than the "Big Meat Ant" sculpture located in a park dedicated to this type of ants. The park is not on the highway but in town, not difficult to find though, just head to the covenience store and the park is just across the road.

Time of visit : December 2013Read more
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Big things Inland Qld Billy Oaks
The Big Merino - Blackall
February 6, 2000 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C
Visited: December 2013

I know there is a "Big Merino" in NSW and that is really big, however we need to get some credit to the residents of Blackall. The Big Merino is part of the dedication residents have to sheep and also a memorial to Jackie Howe, apparently the best sheep shredder to ever walk the planet.

The Big Merino is located at the northern end of town, on the Landsborough highway and next to the information centreRead more
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Big things Inland Qld Billy Oaks
The Big Miner - Rubyvale
February 3, 2000 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C
The last of the Big Icons in the Gem fields is the "Big Miner" in Rubyvale.

Rubyvale is an extra 10 minutes drive from Sapphire on a winding road. After passing an aggregate quarry and a farm with Camels I finally arrived in town.

The Big Miner is located outside Bobby Dazzler mine, in here one can take on a tour to have a look inside the mine (I am a bit claustrophobic so I gave it a pass) and get some souvenirs.

I was good to see that this Icon was really well preserved.

Time of visit : March 2013Read more
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Big things Inland Qld Billy Oaks
The Big Spanner - Sapphire
February 2, 2000 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 34 °C
Last big Icon in Sapphire, the "Big Spanner". This Big Icon is not as amazing as others I've seen, in fact is made of wood instead of steel.

I am guessing the owner was delighted with other big things in town and wanted to highlight his mechanical workshop.

The Big Spanner is located nearly at the end of town on the right, to be more precise is nearly at the end of the 50kph zone. It can easily be missed if attention is not paid.

Time of visit : January 2013Read more
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Big things Inland Qld Billy Oaks
The Big Ring - Sapphire
February 1, 2000 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 35 °C
Next in the list is the Big Sapphire Ring. Located outside "Pat Gems" jewellery store one actually walks through the ring to enter the store.

This was my second visit to the place, I stopped here 2 months earlier on my way to Barcaldine (the photos are from that time).

Inside, the store offers all types of precious stones at reasonable prices, good for souvenirs, and also had a good restaurant.

To get there once in Sapphire and after passing the Big Shovel, pick and sieve, continue on the main road for another kilometre, the shop will be on the right.

Time of visit : January 2013Read more
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Big things Inland Qld Billy Oaks
The Big Pick, Shovel & Sieve - Sapphire
January 31, 2000 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C
Visited: March 2013
Continuing my search for Big Things in the Gem fields, leaving the Big Sapphire behind I head back on Anakie - Sapphire road for another 15 minutes before arriving to "Sapphire", there are 3 Big things here.

The first of this is the "Big Pick, Shovel and Sieve" as described in Wikipedia, for me there are the BIg mining tools, anyway they are probably 4 times the size of the normal tools and represent the tools used to extract sapphires, a common activity in the area.

After some photos I continue to the Big Sapphire Ring

To get there from Emerald turn right at the intersection of Capricorn highway - Anakie Sapphire road, continue 15 minutes to Sapphire. The Big mining tools are located outside "Blue Gem" jewellery store which is one of the first houses in town, adjacent a small Servo on the left. Simply "keep your eyes to the left as soon as you enter town".

Time of visit : March 2013Read more
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Big things Inland Qld Billy Oaks
The Big Sapphire - Anakie
January 30, 2000 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 34 °C
Visited: January 2013
Some 30 minutes after leaving Emerald lies the intersection of Capricorn highway and Anakie - Sapphire road.

Turning left and about 500m from the intersection is the "Big Sapphire". It was a shame to see that the place was abandoned, the information centre had long gone and there was an Excavator parked next to the Icon, I hope it wasn't there to demolish it.

There is a plate remembering the unveiling of the Big Sapphie in 1982 by the then Minister for Tourism.

Time of visit : March 2013Read more
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Big things Inland Qld Billy Oaks
The Big Van Goh - Emerald
January 29, 2000 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C
Visited: January 2013
Leaving the Bruce highway I will now continue with the big things I have found on my way along Capricorn Hwy and then back to Brisbane on Landsborough and Warrego highways. The area around Emerald and the gem fields is in particular seeded with plenty of Big Things,

From Rockhampton the first 50 kms of the Capricorn Hwy are really slow due to continue road reconstruction on the way, then two hours from Rocky and my first stop, Blackwater and fond memories of my stay here in 2004/2005. After getting some water and fruits at Woolies continue to Emerald another 50 minutes ahead.

The first big thing on this route and one of the most beautiful is the "Big Easel" which is a representation of Van Gogh Sunflower paintings and is located in the middle of park, the view is simply amazing.

Time of visit : January 2013Read more
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Trip start
January 26, 2000