Big Rocking Horse
{{Short description|World's largest rocking horse}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Big Rocking Horse
| image = Big Rocking Horse.jpg
| location = Gumeracha, South Australia
| coordinates =
| client = Wal Wilkinson
| owner = Mell Penno
| architect = John Twopenny
| opening_date = {{Start date|1981|df=yes}}
| cost = {{A$|$100,000}}
| start_date = {{Start date|1980|df=yes}}
| completion_date = {{Start date|1981|df=yes}}
| height = {{convert|18.3|m|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|25|t|0}}
| floor_count = 3
| structural_system = Steel
| civil_engineer = Halwell Engineering
}}
The Big Rocking Horse is a tourist attraction located in the town of Gumeracha, South Australia. Designed by David McIntosh, the structure weighs 25 tonnes, stands at over {{convert|18|metres}} tall, and is one of a number of Big Things in Australia designed to attract the attention of passing motorists. It is part of a larger complex that includes a wooden toy factory, wildlife park, and café. Owned by the Wilkinson family since the early 1970s, the complex was sold in 2023 and continues to operate today with new additions like MiniGolf.
History
In 1973, after opening a wooden toy factory in Gumeracha, owner Wal Wilkinson chose to add a large roadside attraction to the site in order to attract passing traffic.{{Harvnb|Clark|2004|p=191}} The first of these was a large wooden giraffe which stood at approximately {{convert|5|m|abbr=on}} in height. This was subsequently replaced by a series of rocking horses: a {{convert|3|m|abbr=on}} tall horse giving way to a 5–metre model, before the process culminated in the decision to build the Big Rocking Horse.{{Harvnb|Morgan|1999|p=39}} The resulting {{convert|18.3|m|abbr=on}} tall structure was designed by David McIntosh and John Twopenny, and it was opened in 1981 after eight months of construction and an investment of $100,000.
The Big Rocking Horse remained under Wilkinson family's ownership for just over 20 years, although problems arose late in this period with an increase in insurance premiums. Although it remained structurally sound, a fall in 1999 and the change in liability insurance premiums resulted in the closure of the site to the public in 2001.{{Harvnb|Oakley|1999|p=9}}. The child fell from the platform on the top of the structure to the middle platform, but suffered only minor injuries.{{Harvnb|Stone|2001|p=6}} Prior to this date, visitors had been able to ascend to a lookout tower on the head of the structure.
In September 2003, Graeme Wilkinson placed the Toy Factory—including the Big Rocking Horse—on the market, at an asking price of approximately $900,000.{{Harvnb|DiGirolamo|2003|p=4}} It was sold in 2004 to Anthony Miller, who had emigrated from South Africa in 1999.{{Harvnb|Henschke|2006}}. Subsequent to buying the Big Rocking Horse, Miller went on to purchase the nearby Warrawong Sanctuary. Under Miller, the structure was restored and reopened to the public, with visitor access to the viewing platforms available from April 2004.{{Harvnb|Innes|2004|p=40}} Changes made by Miller, including the reopening of the Big Rocking Horse and the removal of entrance fees to the associated wildlife park, saw an overall increase in visitor numbers to the complex from 65,000 in 2003 to 200,000 in 2006.{{Harvnb|Austin|2007|p=56}}
In June 2009, the Big Rocking Horse was purchased by Frans and Lyn Gous, another family of business migrants from South Africa.{{cn|date=July 2024}} They sold it in 2023 to Mell Penno, a local with a passion for this iconic park.
Design and construction
File:Gumeracha giant rocking horse.jpg
The Big Rocking Horse {{convert|18.3|m|abbr=on}} in height and {{convert|17|m|abbr=on}} in length.{{Harvnb|Scutt|2009|p=98}} The structure weighs 25 tonnes, and it is set in 80 tonnes of concrete to prevent rocking. The steel frame was fabricated by Halwell Engineering in Adelaide and transported by road to the site, after which the steel cladding was attached. Stairs inside the rocking horse lead to three viewing platforms: one at the head, one on the saddle, and a third on the "rocker bows" near the base of the structure.
The Big Rocking Horse is part of a larger complex incorporating the toy factory, a café and a wildlife park and now also MiniGolf. The factory sells a large range of wooden toys and souvenirs, while the wildlife park (which covers approximately {{convert|7|acres}}), features a number of native and introduced species, including emus and kangaroos.{{Harvnb|Clark|2004|p=192}}
In popular culture
The Big Rocking Horse features in the 2023 film Emotion Is Dead, written and directed by Pete Williams.{{cite interview | interviewer-last=Watts | interviewer-first=Tim|first=Pete |last=Williams | title=Emotion is Dead May Be the Most South Australian Movie Ever Made | website=Broadsheet | date=1 July 2024 | url=https://www.broadsheet.com.au/national/entertainment/article/punky-independent-film-emotion-dead-may-be-most-south-australian-movie-ever-made | access-date=24 July 2024}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
= Sources =
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite news | last = Austin | first = Nigel | date = 9 June 2007 | title = Free entry way to rebuild a failing business | work = The Advertiser | page = 56 }}
- {{cite book | last = Clark | first = David | year = 2004 | title = Big Things: Australia's amazing roadside attractions | publisher = Penguin Books | pages = 190–192 | isbn = 0-14-300200-7 }}
- {{cite news | last = DiGirolamo | first = Rebecca | date = 8 October 2003 | title = Toying with the idea of big bucks | work = The Australian | page = 4 }}
- {{cite web | last = Henschke | first = Ian | date = 2 June 2006 | title = Warrawong sold but conservation dream lives on | work = Stateline | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation | url = http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/sa/content/2006/s1655358.htm | accessdate = 21 April 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141204005705/http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/sa/content/2006/s1655358.htm | archive-date = 4 December 2014 | url-status = dead }}
- {{cite news | last = Innes | first = Stuart | date = 8 October 2004 | title = Rarest honour for rocking horse icon | work = The Advertiser | page = 40 }}
- {{cite news | last = Morgan | first = Peter | date = 9 July 1999 | title = Toy story | work = The Advertiser | page = 39 }}
- {{cite news | last = Oakley | first = Vivienne | date = 29 December 1999 | title = Boy's lucky escape in 7m fall | work = The Advertiser | page = 9 }}
- {{cite book | last = Scutt | first = Craig | year = 2009 | title = The Little Book of Big Aussie Icons | publisher = Five Mile Press | pages = 98–99 | isbn = 978-1-74178-600-2 }}
- {{cite news | last = Stone | first = Kelly | date = 30 January 2001 | title = Bills hobble big horse | work = The Advertiser | page = 6 }}
{{refend}}
External links
- {{official|https://www.thebigrockinghorse.com.au/}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160817004204/http://h2g2.com/edited_entry/A20701216 The Big Rocking Horse, Gumeracha, South Australia] h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition, 2012
{{coord|-34.820991|138.891842|display=title|region:AU-SA_type:landmark}}
Category:Tourist attractions in South Australia
Category:Big things in South Australia