The Big Bogan, Steel monument in Nyngan, Australia.
The Big Bogan is a steel cut-out statue in Nyngan, New South Wales, standing 5.96 metres tall and weighing close to 1,500 kilograms. It depicts a man in casual dress, and since 2022 a pet dog has stood beside him. The figure was designed digitally and cut by a local steel supplier.
The idea came from the St. Mark's Anglican Church minister, who wanted a large sculpture to draw tourists to Nyngan. Bogan Shire Council began the process in March 2015; the design was made digitally and sent to a local steel supplier to produce a cut-out. The statue was erected on 9 September 2015, measuring 5.96 metres and weighing close to 1,500 kilograms.
The name plays on Bogan Shire: a "bogan" is Australian slang for a stereotypically unsophisticated person, and the statue turns the shire's name into a self-mocking emblem. The figure's fishing rod, thongs and esky container are the props of that stereotype, and the 2022 dog addition completes the picture.
The statue stands in Nyngan's center with designated parking nearby and is accessible for photo opportunities throughout the day. Early morning or late afternoon light works best for photographs due to the sun's angle.
The dog added in 2022 is not mentioned in the original 2015 plan; the sculpture was cut from steel by a local supplier, and the final figure stands 5.96 metres tall and weighs close to 1,500 kilograms.
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