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Big Merino

 

The Big Merino Turns 40!

© 2024 Joe Zappia, Goulburn - 100 images.


Australia is renowned for its “big things”, which started way back in 1964 with Coffs Harbour’s Big Banana. Since then, big things have popped up all over the country, but Goulburn’s “Big Merino” would have to be one of the nation’s favourites!

Affectionately known as “Rambo”, the concrete structure is 17 metres long, 15 metres high and weighs 97 tonnes. Rambo was the brainchild of Goulburn businessmen Louis and Atilla Mokany and was modelled on an award-winning merino ram from the Peden family’s Bullamalita Pastoral Company, just outside Goulburn. The sculptor Albert Apponyi took photos of the ram from Bullamilata and designed the structure. Local Architects Gary Dutallis and Associates worked with Sydney based Ricard and Associates, and Irwin Johnson Engineers and Adelaide based Glenn Industries to build.

 

www.thebigmerino.com.au/the-merino-story


Tourist Attraction

Rambo was originally located at 88 Hume Street, the main route between Sydney and Canberra, to lure travellers with craft and souvenir shops, a wool museum, a restaurant and service station. The top floor being a lookout through the sheep’s eyes over Goulburn. Rambo was officially opened on 20 September 1985, by John Brown, the Minister for Sport, Recreation and Tourism. In his speech on the day, Mr Brown welcomed the Big Merino as a wonderful tourist attraction which reflects Goulburn’s role in our nation’s history as ‘riding on the sheep’s back’. He also dismissed any criticisms of cultural cringe and stated, “Anyone who doesn’t like the ram is not a true Australian”.

 

The Big Merino c. 1984 Goulburn Mulwaree Library PF-A3-1 no.585.


Interior of the Billabong Tavern Goulburn Mulwaree Library PF- 70 no. 14309.


The Big Merino's a Boy!

Rambo is completely anatomically correct, another talking point amongst locals and tourists alike. Many a child, after walking around the back end of Rambo, has delightedly exclaimed “The Big Merino’s a boy!”

 

Wool Industry History

The Goulburn district has a very long and successful association with the wool industry, with the reputation as a fine wool growing area. Big-framed merinos were a sign of prosperity and valued above all others, their size and stature often commented upon in newspaper articles.

 

Left: Farmer and Settler, 5 November 1943, pg. 14. Right: Goulburn Evening Penny Post 8 August 1933, pg. 1.


Talk in the town began early for the proposal of a big merino. Here is Goulburn’s Mayor, AJ Elliot, back in 1977, with a prototype for a ‘Big Merino’ tourist attraction.

 

AJ Elliot 8 September 1977, Goulburn Mulwaree Library PF-15 no. 3141.


In 1984, the New South Wales State Government gave planning approval for the one-million-dollar Big Merino Tourist Centre, supported by Goulburn City Council. It took over 6 months to build and in its first year attracted over 1.2 million visitors. Throughout its 40 years, Rambo has become an icon and visitor’s still flock to take photos and selfie’s. Whenever you drive by Rambo, there are always visitor’s taking photos, rain, hail or shine!

 

Rambo's Big Move

The attraction became popular amongst locals and travellers alike. However, there was one hitch in its history... when the Hume Highway bypassed Goulburn in 1992, numbers of visitors steadily declined. This resulted in a proposal by local entrepreneurs Robert Rampton, Steve Jones and Frazer Roberts, to buy and move Rambo 800 metres down the road, closer to the highway interchange.

After lots of organisational decisions, and planning approvals, Rambo was finally moved on 26 May 2007. The move itself created quite a storm and attraction for the locals! A crew of hundreds from Penrith-based company Rex J Andrews, heavy haulage operators, coordinated the move.

 

www.thebigmerino.com.au/the-merino-story


Not only an international tourist attraction, Rambo is also often used to support local causes and raise awareness for everything from Road Safety Awareness Week, green energy, the local SES, the Knitter’s Guild, testicular cancer, depression and the local spy festival.

 

Photo: Robert Rampton.


Worldwide Recognition

Rambo has cemented its place in our community and never fails to impress. It has been listed for Australia & Oceania on the website “Mapped: every Continent’s tallest statue”. It even appears as an attraction on the locally commissioned Goulburn Monopoly Game.

 


Happy Birthday Rambo!

 



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