Big Lobster
Encyclopedia
The Big Lobster is a tourist attraction located in the town of Kingston SE
, South Australia
. Known locally as "Larry", the sculpture of a spiny lobster
stands 17 metres tall, and is regarded as one of the most impressive of Australia's Big Things
. Designed and built by Paul Kelly for Ian Backler and Rob Moyse, it is made of steel
and fibreglass and was intended to attract attention to the restaurant and visitor centre at which it is situated. The Big Lobster was opened on 15 December 1979 after six months of construction.
, he formulated a plan to build a visitor centre
in Kingston SE while travelling in the United States
. Upon returning to Australia he formed a partnership with Rob Moyse, and they engaged Ian Hannaford to develop the complex on a vacant block of land.
The Big Lobster was envisioned by the developers as a means of attracting attention to the centre, and initially the lobster was intended to "rear up" over the front of the complex. Unfortunately, the plans changed when local council
regulations forced the lobster to be repositioned in front of the visitor centre. Paul Kelly, who had previously built the Big Scotsman in North Adelaide, was employed to design and build the new structure. While possibly anecdotal, it is said that final size of the structure was the result of an accident: the plans for the Big Lobster were provided to Paul Kelly in feet, but he misread the measurements and used metres instead, resulting in a threefold increase in size. Kelly built the lobster in Edwardstown, South Australia
, and the final product was transported by road to the site, where it was opened by the South Australian Premier
David Tonkin
on 15 December 1979.
Ian Backler and Rob Moyse ran the site for 15 years until selling it in 1984. The new owners operated the complex until 1990, when it was sold to Eric and Kath Peltz. The current owners, Jenna Lawrie and Casey Sharpe, purchased the property from the Peltz' in 2007 after it had been on the market for six years. They then renovated the site, making changes to the complex as well as steam cleaning the lobster, and formed plans to repaint "Larry" (as the lobster is locally known) as part of the process.
for the purpose, and built it at warehouse out of a steel frame with a fibreglass shell. The details were carved out of foam prior to the application of the fibreglass, before transporting it and having it reassembled on site. The process took approximately six months.
The visitor complex at which it was sited originally consisted of a restaurant, tourist area and a small theatrette. Under the current management the restaurant has been altered to provide a more open-plan space, and it now incorporates the restaurant and a wine tasting area, with plans having been formulated to add accommodation and an accredited tourist centre to the venue.
Kingston SE, South Australia
Kingston SE is a town approximately 297 km southeast of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, and 44 km from the town of Robe. It is at the southeastern end of Encounter Bay and the Coorong. At the 2006 census, Kingston SE had a population of 1,443.-History:The town was named after...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. Known locally as "Larry", the sculpture of a spiny lobster
Spiny lobster
Spiny lobsters, also known as langouste or rock lobsters, are a family of about 45 species of achelate crustaceans, in the Decapoda Reptantia...
stands 17 metres tall, and is regarded as one of the most impressive of Australia's Big Things
Australia's Big Things
The Big Things of Australia are a loosely related set of large structures or sculptures. There are estimated to be over 150 such objects around the country, the first being the Big Scotsman in Medindie, Adelaide, which was built in 1963....
. Designed and built by Paul Kelly for Ian Backler and Rob Moyse, it is made of steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
and fibreglass and was intended to attract attention to the restaurant and visitor centre at which it is situated. The Big Lobster was opened on 15 December 1979 after six months of construction.
History
The Big Lobster was originally conceived by Ian Backler. A local lobster fishermanLobster fishing
Lobster fishing, sometimes called lobstering, is the commercial or recreational harvesting of marine lobsters, spiny lobsters or crayfish.-Lobster tools and technology:...
, he formulated a plan to build a visitor centre
Visitor center
A visitor center or centre , visitor information center, tourist information center, is a physical location that provides tourist information to the visitors who tour the place or area locally...
in Kingston SE while travelling in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Upon returning to Australia he formed a partnership with Rob Moyse, and they engaged Ian Hannaford to develop the complex on a vacant block of land.
The Big Lobster was envisioned by the developers as a means of attracting attention to the centre, and initially the lobster was intended to "rear up" over the front of the complex. Unfortunately, the plans changed when local council
Kingston District Council
The Kingston District Council is a Local Government Area located on the central Limestone Coast, South Australia. Established in 1873 as the Lacepede District Council, the council name was changed in April 2000 due to the new direction hoped to be taken by the council at that time.-History:The area...
regulations forced the lobster to be repositioned in front of the visitor centre. Paul Kelly, who had previously built the Big Scotsman in North Adelaide, was employed to design and build the new structure. While possibly anecdotal, it is said that final size of the structure was the result of an accident: the plans for the Big Lobster were provided to Paul Kelly in feet, but he misread the measurements and used metres instead, resulting in a threefold increase in size. Kelly built the lobster in Edwardstown, South Australia
Edwardstown, South Australia
Edwardstown is an inner Southern suburb located 6 km southwest of Adelaide in the City of Marion.Edwardstown is in the South Australian House of Assembly Electoral district of Elder and the Australian House of Representatives Division of Hindmarsh. Edwardstown is home to the Castle Plaza Shopping...
, and the final product was transported by road to the site, where it was opened by the South Australian Premier
Premiers of South Australia
Before the 1890s when there was no formal party system in South Australia, MPs tended to have historical liberal or conservative beliefs. The liberals dominated government from 1893 to 1905 with Labor support, with the conservatives mostly in opposition. Labor took government with the support of...
David Tonkin
David Tonkin
Dr David Oliver Tonkin AO was the 38th Premier of South Australia, serving from 18 September 1979 to 10 November 1982. He was elected to the House of Assembly seat of Bragg at the 1970 election, serving until 1983. He became the leader of the South Australian division of the Liberal Party of...
on 15 December 1979.
Ian Backler and Rob Moyse ran the site for 15 years until selling it in 1984. The new owners operated the complex until 1990, when it was sold to Eric and Kath Peltz. The current owners, Jenna Lawrie and Casey Sharpe, purchased the property from the Peltz' in 2007 after it had been on the market for six years. They then renovated the site, making changes to the complex as well as steam cleaning the lobster, and formed plans to repaint "Larry" (as the lobster is locally known) as part of the process.
Design and construction
The Big Lobster is 17 metres high, 15.2 metres long and is 13.7 metres wide, with an approximate weight of 4 tonnes. The designer, Paul Kelly, modelled the structure on a lobster that he purchased and had stuffedTaxidermy
Taxidermy is the act of mounting or reproducing dead animals for display or for other sources of study. Taxidermy can be done on all vertebrate species of animals, including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians...
for the purpose, and built it at warehouse out of a steel frame with a fibreglass shell. The details were carved out of foam prior to the application of the fibreglass, before transporting it and having it reassembled on site. The process took approximately six months.
The visitor complex at which it was sited originally consisted of a restaurant, tourist area and a small theatrette. Under the current management the restaurant has been altered to provide a more open-plan space, and it now incorporates the restaurant and a wine tasting area, with plans having been formulated to add accommodation and an accredited tourist centre to the venue.