Big Banana stunt causes chaos as police rush to Coffs Harbour landmark

Coffs Harbour locals bombarded police after seeing a man on top of the Aussie icon “pouring something over it”. But it wasn’t as it seemed.

It’s arguably one of Australia’s most recognised landmarks - up there with the Sydney Opera House and the Great Barrier Reef.

So you can understand why locals in Coffs Harbour freaked out when they thought the Big Banana was being vandalised.

Coffs Harbour police received an influx of calls in the past 24 hours from worried locals who had seen “someone was standing on top of the Big Banana pouring something over it”.

Police were on the scene within 10 minutes, only to discover the feared attempt to damage the landmark wasn’t what it seemed.

Police rushed to the Big Banana after multiple calls from concerned residents. Picture: Supplied

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Instead of being an attack on the town’s yellow hero, police quickly discovered it was a stunt organised to celebrate a new Allen’s treat – Mini Chocolate Bananas.

Luckily, the PR disaster was quickly resolved with Allen’s reps filling officers in on the situation, revealing it wasn’t a vandal pouring paint on the iconic “Big Thing” — but a sweet makeover that involved smothering it in 180 litres of chocolate-like syrup.

“Allen’s is a proud Aussie brand many of us have grown up with, so when we decided to make our much-loved original bananas bite-sized and cover them in chocolate, there was only one way to mark the occasion,” Nestle head of marketing confectionery Joyce Tan said.

Passers-by had no idea the ‘man on top’ of the icon was giving the Aussie landmark a makeover.

The stunt was to launch Allen’s new Mini Chocolate Bananas.

“The Big Banana is an iconic landmark that has created many special memories for Aussies across the country, and has also been a big supporter of Allen’s banana lollies, so we’re thrilled to be the first confectionery brand in the world to give this great icon an ‘apeeling’ makeover to celebrate our new product.

“After all, the only thing better than one Australian icon being given a delicious chocolate makeover, is two.”

Thankfully, the sticky statue has since been restored to its former glory — and it seems Aussies are super excited about the smaller version of the classic lolly.

The miniature version is a twist on the classic lollies.

“These are soooo yummy!!! I’m already addicted!” one fan wrote on Allen’s Lollies Facebook page.

“Omg this is too much! First it’s the Black Cats! Now these!! Stahhhp it!” another said.

“OMG....I have just died and gone to heaven. I love banana lollies....chocolate covered...you are so naughty Allen’s.”

The new product comes just weeks after the brand dropped another two new twists on classics, releasing Mini Chocolate Raspberries and entired bags of fan favourite, Black Cats.

You can also now buy whole bags of Allen's Black Cats. Picture: Supplied

And there's also Mini Chocolate Raspberries now on shelves. Picture: Supplied

The Big Banana has become a quintessential part of Australian culture, drawing tourists every day who are making the roadtrip between NSW and Queensland.

It’s one of several “Big Things” across the country, and sparks a warm dose of nostalgia among Aussies, who visited giant fruity landmarks such as the Big Pineapple, Big Avocado, the Big Orange and the Big Mango, as kids.

You can pick up a packet of the new flavour in the chocolate aisle at supermarkets for $4.50.