Big Pineapple facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Big Pineapple |
|
|---|---|
Big Pineapple, 2005
|
|
| Location | Nambour Connection Road, Woombye, Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1970s–1990s (late 20th century) |
| Built | 1971 |
| Architect | Peddle Thorp and Harvey, Paul Luff, Gary Smallcombe and Associates |
| Official name: The Big Pineapple (former Sunshine Plantation) | |
| Type | state heritage (built, landscape) |
| Designated | 6 March 2009 |
| Reference no. | 602694 |
| Significant period | 1970s |
| Significant components | restaurant, retail outlet |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Big Pineapple is a famous heritage-listed tourist attraction in Woombye, Australia. It was designed by Peddle Thorp and Harvey, Paul Luff, and Gary Smallcombe and Associates. This popular spot is also known as Sunshine Plantation. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on March 6, 2009, because of its historical importance.
The Big Pineapple building is two levels high and stands 16 meters (about 52 feet) tall. It first opened its doors on August 15, 1971. The attraction is located on a large 165-hectare (about 408-acre) site.
Today, new owners are bringing exciting new events to the Big Pineapple. These include the Big Pineapple Music Festival. The Big Pineapple also hosted a concert for the famous band Midnight Oil in 2017. The owners are working with the community to plan even more new attractions and services for the future.
Contents
What is the Big Pineapple?
The Big Pineapple is a well-known tourist attraction. It is found on the north side of Nambour Connection Road in Woombye. Many people who visited Queensland after 1971 remember it fondly.
Besides the giant pineapple building, the site has many other things to see and do. These include shops, restaurants, a fun train ride, and the Nutmobile. There are also farms with crops, a rainforest, and a Macadamia Nut Factory. It was one of the first places in Queensland to combine farming with tourism.
What are "Big Things"?
"Big Things" are huge objects used for advertising. They are usually shaped like the item they are promoting. These giant structures are often at least twice the size of a human. They are seen as outdoor art that helps show what a town or area is known for. The Big Pineapple is one of the most famous "Big Things" in Queensland.
Pineapples were first grown in Queensland in 1824. By the late 1800s, farmers in the Maroochy area, where the Big Pineapple is, started growing pineapples for sale. The climate and rainfall there were perfect for them.
The North Coast Railway helped the fruit industry grow. The railway reached Woombye in 1890. This made it easier to transport fruit to other places. By the early 1900s, Woombye was known as a great place for growing pineapples.
After World War II, more Australians started owning cars. This led to more road trips and longer holidays. Roads were improved, making it easier to reach places like the Sunshine Coast. The Bruce Highway was fully paved by 1962. This brought many more tourists to Queensland.
The Sunshine Coast started focusing on tourism in the 1950s. It became known for its beautiful beaches. Unlike the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast kept a more relaxed, family-friendly feel. Its attractions often focused on education, farming history, and nature. Besides the Big Pineapple, other attractions included the Buderim Ginger Factory and Australia Zoo.
"Big Things" became popular in Australia in the 1960s. They were built to attract people driving by to stop at shops or attractions. The Big Banana in Coffs Harbour (1964) was one of the first. Most "Big Things" are made from steel frames and fibreglass. They usually represent something the town is famous for, like fruit or produce.
How the Sunshine Plantation Started
In 1971, Bill and Lyn Taylor bought a pineapple farm near Woombye. They wanted to create a new kind of tourist attraction. It would combine farming with tourism, showing off over 40 types of fruits, nuts, and spices. They called it the Sunshine Plantation.
The local council and the Queensland Government supported their idea. The Sunshine Plantation officially opened on August 15, 1971. It was seen as a unique attraction for Queensland.
At the opening, a crane placed the leaves on top of the 16-meter tall Big Pineapple. This giant fibreglass pineapple became the symbol of the plantation. Inside the Big Pineapple, visitors could learn about the pineapple industry. There was also a shop and a restaurant nearby.
The Sunshine Plantation quickly became popular. Visitors could learn how tropical fruits were grown and processed. A special sugar cane train took visitors on a tour of the farm. In the restaurant, people could taste fresh tropical fruits. The market sold fresh fruit and fruit jams.
The Big Pineapple was soon joined by other "Big Things" nearby. In 1971, another large pineapple opened in Gympie. In 1976, a Big Cow was built north of Nambour.
The Sunshine Plantation won an award in 1972 for its tourist development. In 1981, the Taylors sold the Sunshine Plantation.
In 1978, a fire destroyed the market and restaurant building. But a new complex was quickly built and opened in December of the same year. By 1980, the Sunshine Plantation included a new Macadamia Nut Factory and the Nutmobile tour. This factory was the largest in Australia.
By 1980, the Sunshine Plantation was attracting over a million visitors a year. During the 1980s, more changes happened. The Nutcountry Tour was extended to include a rainforest section. New restaurants and a gem display were added. In 1987, the Big Pineapple building was moved about 15 meters (about 49 feet) east and updated. A new hydroponics farm called Tomorrow's Harvest was built in 1988. In 1989, the 16-meter tall Big Macadamia was opened.
In 1990, the Bruce Highway was changed to bypass the Big Pineapple. However, the attraction remained popular. More updates were made in the 1990s. A mini tornado damaged Tomorrow's Harvest in 1991, but it was repaired. A Rainforest train stop was added, and an Arts and Crafts Gallery opened. In 1996, a Wildlife Garden with koalas and other Australian native animals opened.
In 2006, the Big Pineapple was named one of Queensland's top 12 icons. In 2007, Australia Post even featured the Big Pineapple on a special stamp, celebrating Australia's "Big Things."
What Happened Next?
The Big Pineapple attraction closed in October 2010. The Nutmobile was sold in 2011. But in late 2011, a new group bought the complex. They worked to repair the visitor area and reopen it as a tourist attraction and market.
In April 2013, the first Big Pineapple Music Festival was held. It has become very popular and often sells out. The festival is now one of Australia's best regional music festivals.
The owners are planning new attractions for the future. They see potential for a family fun park, a travel center, food tourism, and eco-tourism. They also suggest walking trails, outdoor sports, and places to stay like an RV park and glamping sites.
As of 2017, the Big Pineapple includes the heritage-listed visitor area and the Wildlife HQ Zoo. Visitors can still climb inside the giant pineapple. Even though it's not as busy as it was in the 1970s and 1980s, interest in the Big Pineapple is still strong. It's even a popular spot for taking selfies!
In 2019, the Big Pineapple became home to the TreeTop Challenge. This is the highest ropes course in Australia.
What Does the Big Pineapple Look Like?
.jpg)
The Big Pineapple complex is on a hill overlooking the Nambour Connection Road. The main area has pineapple farms, rainforests, and orchards. Key buildings include the giant pineapple, an entrance area, and two large, two-story buildings for restaurants and shops.
There are also train tracks, two train stations, and a ticket office for the plantation train. You can find a machinery shed, an animal nursery, a lagoon, and a koala enclosure. The Nutmobile/Rainforest Tour station is also nearby.
The Big Pineapple building and the other main buildings are easy to see from the road. They are at the top of the hill, looking out over the pineapple farms and animal nursery.
The Big Pineapple Building
The Big Pineapple itself is a hollow structure, 16 meters (about 52 feet) tall. Its outer shell is made of fibreglass and looks just like a pineapple. It's supported by a steel frame inside. The fibreglass pieces are joined together to create the pineapple's skin texture and color.
Inside, the Big Pineapple has two levels for displays and a viewing platform at the top. You can reach the first level by outside steps. The second floor has a curved staircase. From the viewing platform, you can see the pineapple's stalk above you.
Inside, you'll find displays from 1971 about tropical fruits and how pineapples are made. There are hand-painted scenes of pineapple farms and model factories. You can also see old photos and products from the Golden Circle Cannery.
Shops and Restaurants
After the ticket booth, you'll find the restaurant and retail buildings. These buildings have a Polynesian style. They have concrete-tiled roofs and large verandahs. Both buildings have two stories.
The retail building is an open space with souvenir displays. The restaurant building is also open and larger. It has serving counters and kitchen areas.
The Plantation Train
.jpg)
East of the main buildings is the train ticket office and platform. The train, called Sugar Cane Train No.4, takes visitors on a tour. It goes around the pineapple farm, an orchard, a lagoon, and the animal nursery. The koala sanctuary and rainforest walk are also part of the tour.
The Pineapple Farm
The pineapple farm is on a slope within the train's path. The pineapples are grown in neat rows on raised beds.
Other Areas
Beyond the train station, you'll find an orchard with various fruit trees. The Nutmobile/Rainforest station is a simple, open building. The complex also has fences and a large car park.
Why is it a Heritage Site?
The Big Pineapple complex was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on March 6, 2009. This means it's an important historical place.
- Showing History: The Big Pineapple shows how "agri-tourism" (farming tourism) and roadside attractions grew in Queensland. It combines tourism with promoting the area's tropical fruit farming. It also shows how tourist spots developed as more people started taking car holidays after World War II. It's one of Australia's first "Big Things."
- Special Features: The Big Pineapple complex is a great example of an agri-tourism attraction. It mixes fun activities with educational displays. The many fruit, nut, and spice plants teach visitors about tropical farming. The Big Pineapple building itself is a perfect example of a "Big Thing" – it's huge, made of fibreglass and steel, and advertises the local produce.
- Beautiful Views: The Big Pineapple building is a landmark that's easy to spot from the road. It offers amazing views of the surrounding landscape. The plantation's sloped land, rainforest, and crops create beautiful scenes for visitors.
- Community Connection: The Big Pineapple is a very well-known place, both in Australia and around the world. It holds special memories for thousands of tourists who stopped there on their road trips. It also had strong ties with the local community and farming groups.
Awards and Recognition
In 2009, as part of Queensland's 150th birthday celebrations (Q150), the Big Pineapple was named one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland. This was for its role as an important "location."
Big Things in Australia
Australia has many "Big Things" across the country. A book from 2004 listed 118 of them. Queensland had the most, with 41. Many of these "Big Things" were built by businesses to advertise their shops or attractions. Eight of them, including the Big Pineapple, were structures you could go inside.
See also
- Australia's Big Things
- List of tramways in Queensland
