Big Pelican, Tourist attraction on Noosa River, Queensland, Australia
The Big Pelican is a giant white pelican sculpture standing on the waterfront of Noosa River in Noosaville. The paper mache and metal structure measures several meters tall and features moving parts including a rotating head and flapping wings.
The sculpture was created in 1977 for the Festival of the Waters parade and originally took part in multiple street events. These early appearances made it a recognizable part of the local festival celebrations.
The sculpture has become a recognizable local symbol and appears in children's picture books and television shows about the region. Visitors often recognize it from media portraying the area and its character.
The sculpture is located on Gympie Terrace next to the river, with parking available along the promenade nearby. Access is straightforward from the street, and there are several spots nearby for relaxing and taking photographs.
Two operators could hide inside the structure to control moving features such as the blinking eyes. This hidden aspect made each performance unpredictable, leaving onlookers curious about how the mechanical animation worked.
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