Australia has a long and proud tradition of building enormous things that nobody particularly asked for, and Mildura has just made a spectacular contribution to the cause.
Introducing the Big Sultana.
Standing an impressive 5.25 metres tall, weighing 1.25 tonnes and sporting a grin that suggests it’s very pleased with itself, the latest addition to Australia’s collection of oversized roadside attractions was officially unveiled on Tuesday.
And while some might question the wisdom of constructing a gigantic, wrinkled piece of dried fruit, the good people of Mildura reckon it’s a grape idea.
The enormous fibreglass creation has taken pride of place along the Victorian city’s picturesque riverfront, where it’s expected to attract curious tourists, delighted children and possibly a few people wondering exactly what they’re looking at.
Commissioned by iconic Australian dried fruit brand Sunbeam, the sculpture celebrates 100 years of dried fruit production in the Sunraysia region, which remains Australia’s biggest producer of dried grapes.
And when it comes to raisin the profile of the humble sultana, the company certainly hasn’t done things by halves.
The sculpture is a whopping 525 times the size of an ordinary sultana and took 13 weeks to construct. For those who prefer their measurements in supermarket terms, it’s also roughly as tall as 260 packets of Sunbeam sultanas stacked end to end.
Sunbeam general manager Elizabeth Miller told the ABC the company wanted something that would celebrate the region’s agricultural heritage while giving people a good laugh.
“We think it looks like a sultana, but we’re willing to laugh along with anyone else that, you know, wants to sort of have a bit of a joke about it,” she said.
“We wanted the sultana to really just look as much like a sultana as possible with the colour, the shape and the wrinkles.”
And yes, the creators are well aware that an enormous brown, lumpy object might invite a few less-than-flattering comparisons.
But rather than shy away from the inevitable jokes, they’ve embraced the silliness, complete with an enormous cartoon smile.
“They’re meant to bring a smile to people’s faces. They’re meant to be a little bit of fun,” Ms Miller explained.
Mildura Deputy Mayor Helen Healy said the sculpture was a fitting tribute to generations of local growers who helped build the region’s dried fruit industry.
“This gift to the community … is a fun tribute to our proud local cultural heritage. We hope it sparks conversation and interest in our agricultural history,” she said.
And the Big Sultana is certainly in good company.
Australia already boasts the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour, the Big Pineapple on the Sunshine Coast, the Big Merino in Goulburn and enough giant crustaceans to make a seafood platter of terrifying proportions.
Closer to home, Mildura has the Big Orange, while nearby Wentworth proudly displays the Big Yabby.
Now the region has another reason for tourists to pull over, take a photograph and tell their friends they’ve seen something truly extraordinary.
The Big Sultana will remain on display near Ornamental Lakes Park for at least 12 months, after which its long-term future will be considered.
Whether it becomes a permanent landmark remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Australia’s obsession with enormous novelty objects shows absolutely no signs of drying up.
And frankly, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
