The Big Prawn, Ballina: Location, size and history

The Big Prawn in Ballina, NSW, is one of Australia’s more impressive Big Things. The giant crustacean is nine metres tall, and is located next to Bunnings in West Ballina.

What is the Big Prawn?

The Big Prawn is one of Australia’s most famous Big Things. For the uninitiated, the Big Things are large roadside gimmicks, often made of fibreglass. Roadtrippers tend to collect photo stops outside these Big Things.

Where is the Big Prawn?

The Big Prawn is in Ballina, New South Wales. Ballina is one of the main hub towns of the Northern Rivers region, although many use the town as a gateway to Byron Bay. The drive from Ballina to Byron Bay takes about 28 minutes.

The exact location of the Big Prawn is next to the Bunnings car park just off River Street in West Ballina.

5 Ballina experiences to book in advance

Go on a dolphin watching cruise – sightings are very reliable.
Take a guided coastal walk – learning about the natural environment on the way.
Clink glasses as the sun goes down – on a Richmond River sunset cruise.
Take a cruise to the Julian Rocks Marine Reserve – with a marine biologist pointing out the dolphins, turtles and dramatic cliffs.
Learn to surf – on a private surfing lesson.

The history of the Big Prawn

The current location of the Big Prawn is not the original location, however. Indeed, it is not the original prawn either.

The original Big Prawn was constructed in 1989 on top of the West Ballina Transit Centre next to the Pacific Highway. When the service station closed down, Ballina’s famous Big Thing was threatened with the axe.

In 2012, however, Australian hardware store chain Bunnings bought the Big Prawn and moved it next to its new Ballina store.

The Big Prawn was given a makeover, and a tail was added to the original design.

How big is the Big Prawn, Ballina?

The Big Prawn is approximately nine metres tall and weighs around 35 tonnes.

Other attractions in Ballina include North Creek Beach, Lighthouse Beach and the Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum.

Also close by are the Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary in Knockrow and Killen Falls in Tintenbar.

Where to stay in Ballina

The top Ballina accommodation options are:

For charm and personality: Ballina Manor Boutique Hotel.
For a holiday park with family-sized cabins and lots kid-friendly facilities: Discovery Parks Ballina.
For a relatively cheap, good quality motel: Almare Tourist Motel.
For riverside location: Ramada Hotel and Suites.