Australia Post will honour some of the country's best-known Big Things in a limited edition coin collection.
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The new coins will feature the Big Banana, Big Pineapple and Big Lobster to celebrate Australia's decades-long love affair with roadside giants.
This uniquely Australian phenomenon is a mainstay of domestic tourism, with the quirky sculptures celebrating iconic food and animals and attracting people to regional towns.
Almost 90 per cent of Australians have visited at least one of around 1,000 Big Things scattered across the country, according to Australia Post.
Australian tradition
Assistant Minister for Charities, Competition and Treasury Andrew Leigh said Australia's Big Things are loved by all.
"Whether it's The Big Banana, The Big Pineapple, or Canberra's very own Big Swoop, the best 'Big Things' celebrate the character of our communities and give visitors a reason to smile and pop in for a visit," he said.
"While the Mint's 'Big Things' coins may be of standard size, the memories they evoke loom large."
Big Things in every state and territory will be included on the coins, with the list including The Big Jumping Crocodile in Wak Wak Northern Territory, The Big Lobster in Kingston South Australia and The Giant Ram in Wagin Western Australia.
Canberra's new giant magpie installation named Big Swoop also joins the ranks of celebrated sculptures.
Australian tourists are more likely to visit the Big Banana and Big Pineapple but topping the nation's must-see list are the Big Tassie Devil in Mole Creek Tasmania and the Giant Koala in Dadswell Bridge Victoria.
Royal treatment
On a royal visit in 1983 Prince Charles and Princess Diana rode the Big Pineapple plantation train on the Sunshine coast, cementing it's status as an Australian icon.
Opened in 1971 on the existing Sunshine Plantation, the 16-metre fibreglass pineapple drew over one million visitors a year at the peak of its popularity.
Currently under reconstruction, tourism from the pineapple was estimated to be worth $2.6 billion a year in 2019, supporting more than 20,000 jobs on the Sunshine Coast.
Fans and collectors can purchase the stamps and coins from Australia Post Offices or online. An individual stamp will cost $1.20 while individual coins retail for $3 each.
Despite being a country full of Big Things, Australians want more, with survey respondents telling Australia Post they would like a giant surfboard on the Gold Coast, a giant golden nugget in Ballarat and even a big coffee in Melbourne.
What big thing would you like to see? Tell us in the comments.
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