Giant yabby unveiled in Windorah

A four point six metre yabby statue now stands in Windorah, one thousand two hundred kilometres north-west of Brisbane, unveiled during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Albert Street.

Town of 100 known for yabby racing

Windorah, with a population of one hundred, is best known for hosting international yabby races.

“[At] Cooper Creek … you will pull up, go fishing, and you're bound to get a yabby or two, or five or more.”

Joins Australia's big things collection

The yabby joins other Australian big crustaceans including Ballina's big prawn and Cardwell's big crab, plus Bowen's big mango, Tully's big gumboot and Woombye's big pineapple.

Thirteen thousand dollars state-funded project

Mayor O'Neil said she hoped the thirteen thousand dollar state-funded project would catch the eye of tourists and encourage them to hang around an extra day for economic development of communities out west.

“Hopefully it'll pull the tourists up and they may hang around an extra day … it's good for economic development of the communities out west.”

Artist Jobella Bennett built it in three months

Toowoomba artist Jobella Bennett constructed the yabby from bird wire and sheet metal over three months. It is the largest artwork she has made and her first big project.

“It's my first big project, I learned a lot.”

Australia professionalising big things trend

University of the Sunshine Coast history lecturer Amy Clarke said Australia is bucking the trend by continuing to build more big things, unlike Canada and the United States.

“Australia is still pedal to the floor, kind of, 'Let's build as many of them as we can.'”

Big things now official and artistic

Dr Clarke said since the trend began in the nineteen sixties, it has become more official over time. Professional fibreglass artists now specialise in making these giant objects, which are intended to be quite artistic.

“We've now seen over time a professionalisation of big things.”