Australian Farmer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Australian Farmer |
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| Big Farmer | |
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| Artist | Marijan Bekic |
| Year | 17 April 2009 (construction started in 2007) |
| Type | Statue |
| Medium | Granite sculpture |
| Dimensions | 8 m (26 ft) |
| Weight | 70 tonnes (69 long tons; 77 short tons) |
| Location | Wudinna, South Australia, Australia |
The Australian Farmer (also called the Big Farmer) is a giant statue in Wudinna, South Australia. It is one of Australia's Big Things. This huge sculpture is made of granite. It stands 8 meters (about 26 feet) tall. It weighs around 70 tonnes (about 77 tons)!
It took 17 years for the idea to become a finished statue. The artist, Marijan Bekic, and his son David, spent two years carving it. The statue looks like a farmer. It has carvings that show grain and sheep. These symbols represent the early farmers in the area.
Contents
How the Australian Farmer Statue Began
The Idea for a Community Project
The local council in Wudinna first thought of a community project in 1992. They wanted to create a special memorial. This memorial would honor the first people who settled in the area. Wudinna is famous for its granite. So, they decided to use this stone for the project.
In 1999, they asked artists to submit their ideas. Marijan Bekic, an artist from Croatia, responded. He made a small model of his design. The community loved his idea.
Getting the Project Started
The council then tried to get money for the project. They applied for a special grant. However, they did not receive the grant. But the community still wanted the statue!
So, people helped in other ways. A local center donated land for the statue. Different companies gave money and supplies. Local people even offered food and places to stay for the artist. Because of all this help, the project began in 2007. They thought it would take about a year to finish.
Unveiling the Big Farmer
The artist and his son worked for two years on the statue. It was finally finished and shown to the public on April 17, 2009. Many local events happened before the big day. A radio show even broadcast live from Wudinna.
Over 1,000 people came to the official unveiling. Important politicians from both the Federal and State governments were there. In August 2009, the Australian Farmer was recognized for its positive impact on the community.
What the Statue Looks Like
Carved from Local Granite
The Australian Farmer statue is 8 meters tall. It was carved by hand from 70 tonnes of local granite. This granite came from the Wudinna area.
Symbols in the Design
The statue is a special artistic version of a farmer. It has a basic human shape. But the top part of the statue looks like the sun. The body of the farmer has carvings of grain crops. These represent the crops grown in the region.
At the bottom of the statue, there are sheep. These sheep represent the sheep farmers in the district. When you look at the statue from far away, the sheep also form the feet of the farmer figure.
See also
In Spanish: Australian Farmer para niños
