South Australia is set to expand its family of “Big Things”, with a nine-foot koala joining The Big Rocking Horse at Gumeracha.
Owners say they have spent more than a year saving for the 9ft (2.7m) tall installation, which is travelling down from Natureworks in Queensland and is expected to be in place for the Christmas holidays.
In a Facebook post, the team said the new attraction is “for the visitors to create new memories with,” adding that while the animal park doesn’t house live koalas, wild ones do occasionally wander through.
Owner Mell Penno says the public will get a say on whether the giant koala becomes a boy or girl and what its name should be once it’s settled in.
The new feature joins South Australia’s growing list of Big Things, including the Big Galah at Kimba, the Big Lobster at Kingston SE, Rooey II at Bordertown and the Big Scotsman in Adelaide.
It will also sit in friendly rivalry with Victoria’s Giant Koala at Dadswells Bridge, a 14-metre counterpart on the Adelaide-Melbourne route that has already drawn some cheeky comments online. Several locals have joked the Victorian version “looks stoned”, saying the SA newcomer has a friendlier face.
The Big Rocking Horse will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day but open throughout the rest of the summer holidays.
