South Australia’s largest crustacean, Larry the Lobster, to sparkle under lights

SOUTH Australia’s largest crustacean Larry the Lobster is being a little bit shellfish in his old age and is stealing the limelight.

Larry the Lobster at Kingston, South East.

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SOUTH Australia’s largest crustacean Larry the Lobster is being a little bit shellfish in his old age and is stealing the limelight.

The 17m-tall attraction on the Princes Highway will make himself visible to fans at all times of the day and night, thanks to Kingston District Council.

The council will invest $10,000 for four LED lights to surround the giant crustacean in a move aimed at enhancing the coastal town’s visitor experience.

“I think Larry is quite unique, he is a town icon and despite being privately owned he’s at the entrance of our town,” the council chief executive Andrew MacDonald said.

“He’s normally in pitch darkness at night so it will be beautiful for the people who live here to see the icon at night.

Larry the Lobster at Kingston SE.

“The council has also recently installed new town-entrance signage, a new brand and this again positions Kingston as a tourist and lifestyle destination.”

Larry has been a tourist drawcard to the Limestone Coast town, 300km south of Adelaide, for nearly 40 years and the lights are expected to be turned on at night from Friday.

Mr MacDonald said the investment followed a successful tourist season, which had accommodation at capacity and business owners saying it was their busiest season yet.

Larry and a restaurant business, on 4500sq m of land, remains on the market after failing to sell at auction in September — despite national attention on the sale.

Auctioneer Ben Treloar, of Ottoson Partners Real Estate, told The Advertiser the property did go under contract, but due to finances was not sold.

The business price has since been reduced from $369,000 to $349,000 plus GST.

Larry received a new lease on life, undergoing structural repairs and a new paint job as part of a $50,000 makeover last year ahead of the sale.

Originally published as South Australia’s largest crustacean, Larry the Lobster, to sparkle under lights