Darwin alderman proposes giant novelty architecture to boost city’s tourism trade

DARWIN Council should investigate whether to spend money on “novelty architecture” such as “a big boomerang with a croc swing hanging from it” in a bid to boost the city’s tourism trade, an alderman says.

Could a giant kitsch fibreglass crocodile be the answer to Darwin's tourist woes? Sherry Cullen reckons yes. Picture: Digitially altered by Stuart Thornton

DARWIN Council should investigate whether to spend money on “novelty architecture” such as “a big boomerang with a croc swing hanging from it” in a bid to boost the city’s tourism trade, an alderman says.

Alderman Sherry Cullen will on Tuesday night propose council investigate building a “large, yet tasteful novelty architecture structure”, which she hopes “will become an iconic tourist trap”.

Darwin council Alderman Sherry Cullen. This picture crop makes her look like a “big thing”. Picture: Supplied

In a pitch to her fellow elected members, Ms Cullen says she hopes tourists would pose for photos in front of the novelty architectural feature in a similar way as visitors do at the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy.

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Ms Cullen said she was “open to all suggestions” but put forward three possible ideas, a “giant pearl shell”, a “big boomerang with a croc swing hanging from it” and a “big croc that people can interact with by standing in its mouth pretending to push apart its jaws”.

“Darwin needs a facelift and a tourist identity,” Ms Cullen’s proposal says.

The giant Darwin stubby in Larrimah. Picture: Elise Derwin

Ms Cullen’s proposal says “novelty, yet appropriate” monument would “create the ultimate social media tourist moment, in Darwin, that all tourist love”.

“My proposal is for landmark feature that creates that social media Instagram moment,” the proposal says.

Ms Cullen’s proposal says the novelty monument could be built anywhere, but should be in a spot where tourist photos would also capture “Darwin’s iconic blue waters and picturesque sunsets” in the background.

The big pink Buffalo on the Stuart Highway is still there and is still pink.

Ms Cullen also drew comparisons with Coffs Harbour’s Big Banana, Ballina’s Big Prawn and the Devils Marbles south of Tennant Creek.

Last month, the Territory Government released tender details for a park at Myilly Point, including an ibis-shaped “bin chicken” shade structure.

Among the large novelty attractions in the Territory are the giant pink fibreglass buffalo at Kevin Quinlan’s used car dealership on the Stuart Hwy and the giant Darwin stubby at the Pink Panther Hotel in Larrimah.

Sweetheart, a large male saltwater crocodile, is also a big thing. Picture: Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory

The New South Wales town of Nyngan, which straddles the Bogan River and is the seat of Bogan Shire, in 2015 controversially erected a 6m steel Big Bogan, drawing national attention and reportedly attracted scores of tourists.