The Big Merino is a 15.2 metres (50 ft) tall concrete statue of a merino ram located in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia. It was modeled after Rambo, a stud ram that lived on a local property.[1]

Big Merino
The Big Merino in 2011
Completion date1985; 39 years ago (1985)
MediumConcrete
SubjectMerino
Dimensions15.2 m (50 ft) tall
Weight97 tonnes (95 long tons; 107 short tons)
LocationGoulburn, New South Wales, Australia

The Big Merino was built near the Hume Highway in 1985.[2] In 1992 the highway rerouted to bypass the town of Goulburn, which resulted in 40 fewer busloads of tourists visiting the Big Merino each day.[3] On 26 May 2007, the Big Merino was moved to a location closer to the new Hume Highway to increase visitor numbers, and is now located near the freeway interchange at a service station.[4]

Inside the Big Merino is a gift shop, an exhibition on the history of wool in Australia, and an observatory in the ram's eyes.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Big Merino | NSW Government". www.nsw.gov.au. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  2. ^ Dowse, Nicola (27 March 2024). "Bigger is better: A guide to the 5 best big things in NSW". timeout.com.
  3. ^ "Bypassed Rambo looks for new pastures". ABC Rural. 3 October 2005. Archived from the original on 28 October 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  4. ^ Thistleton, John. "Buying and moving the Big Merino". About Regional. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  5. ^ Grossetti, Carla (7 November 2023). "A Guide To 30 Of Australia's Iconic Big Things". Australian Traveller. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
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34°46′21″S 149°41′28″E / 34.7726°S 149.691°E / -34.7726; 149.691