Big Lobster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Big Lobster |
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Larry the Lobster
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| Designer | Paul Kelly |
| Completion date | 15 December 1979 |
| Medium | Fibreglass over steel frame |
| Dimensions | 18 m × 13.7 m × 15.2 m (59 ft × 45 ft × 50 ft) |
| Weight | 4 tonnes |
| Location | Kingston SE, South Australia |
| 36°49′25.6″S 139°51′47.5″E / 36.823778°S 139.863194°E | |
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The Big Lobster is a super cool tourist attraction in Kingston SE, South Australia. People often call it Larry the Lobster. This giant sculpture of a spiny lobster is 17 metres tall! It's one of the most famous "Big Things" in Australia. Paul Kelly designed and built it using steel and fibreglass. It was made to grab attention for a restaurant and visitor centre. Larry the Lobster first opened on 15 December 1979, after about six months of building work.
How Larry the Lobster Started
The idea for the Big Lobster came from a local lobster fisherman named Ian Backler. He wanted to build a visitor centre in Kingston SE. He got the idea while traveling in the United States. When he came back to Australia, he teamed up with Rob Moyse. They hired Ian Hannaford to help them build the centre.
Ian and Rob wanted the Big Lobster to attract people to their new centre. At first, they planned for the lobster to "rear up" over the front of the building. But the local council had rules. They made the lobster stand in front of the visitor centre instead.
Paul Kelly was hired to design and build the giant lobster. He had also built another "Big Thing" called the Big Scotsman in North Adelaide. Kelly built the lobster in Edwardstown, South Australia. Then, the huge lobster was moved by road to Kingston SE. The Premier of South Australia, David Tonkin, officially opened it on 15 December 1979.
Ian Backler and Rob Moyse ran the site for 15 years. They sold it in 1984. The current owners, Jenna Lawrie and Casey Sharpe, bought the property in 2007. They updated the whole place. They even steam cleaned the lobster! They also planned to repaint "Larry" to make him look new again.
In 2016, radio hosts Hamish and Andy started a fun campaign. It was called #PinchAMate. This helped the owners raise money to fix up the Lobster. Thanks to all the publicity, they reached their goal! Kingston's famous lobster was restored to its original bright look.
Building Larry: Design and Size
The Big Lobster is really big! It stands 17 metres high. It is 15.2 metres long and 13.7 metres wide. It weighs about 4 tonnes, which is like four small cars!
Paul Kelly, the designer, made the sculpture look very real. He bought a real lobster and had it stuffed. He used this stuffed lobster as his model. He built the giant lobster in a warehouse. First, he made a strong steel frame. Then, he shaped the details out of foam. After that, he covered it with a fibreglass shell. The whole process took about six months. Once it was built, it was transported and put together at the site.
The visitor centre next to Larry has changed over time. It used to have a restaurant and a small theatre. Now, it has a more open space. It includes a restaurant and a place for wine tasting. There are also plans to add places to stay and a tourist information centre.
