24-472: The Big Rocking Horse is a tourist attraction located in the town of Gumeracha , South Australia . Designed by David McIntosh, the structure weighs 25 tonnes, stands at over 18 metres (59 ft) tall, and is one of a number of Big Things in Australia designed to attract the attention of passing motorists. It is part of a larger complex that includes a wooden toy factory, wildlife park, and café. Owned by
48-402: A district headquarters and opened it up for sheep grazing. In 1841, The South Australian Company built a home, known as "Ludlow House", for the first manager of the station known as "Timnath", William Beavis Randell. The company also built a flour mill in the 1840s. The estate housed his large family, his workforce and their families. In 1846, Randell donated land and funds for a church, and
72-603: A fall in 1999 and the change in liability insurance premiums resulted in the closure of the site to the public in 2001. Prior to this date, visitors had been able to ascend to a lookout tower on the head of the structure. In September 2003, Graeme Wilkinson placed the Toy Factory—including the Big Rocking Horse—on the market, at an asking price of approximately $ 900,000. It was sold in 2004 to Anthony Miller, who had emigrated from South Africa in 1999. Under Miller,
96-527: A large roadside attraction to the site in order to attract passing traffic. The first of these was a large wooden giraffe which stood at approximately 5 m (16 ft) in height. This was subsequently replaced by a series of rocking horses : a 3 m (9.8 ft) tall horse giving way to a 5–metre model, before the process culminated in the decision to build the Big Rocking Horse. The resulting 18.3 m (60 ft) tall structure
120-422: A number of native and introduced species, including emus and kangaroos . The Big Rocking Horse features in the 2023 film Emotion Is Dead , written and directed by Pete Williams . 34°49′16″S 138°53′31″E / 34.820991°S 138.891842°E / -34.820991; 138.891842 Gumeracha, South Australia Gumeracha ( / ˌ ɡ ʌ m ə ˈ r æ k ə / GUM -ə- RAK -ə )
144-593: A series of rocking horses : a 3 m (9.8 ft) tall horse giving way to a 5–metre model, before the process culminated in the decision to build the Big Rocking Horse. The resulting 18.3 m (60 ft) tall structure was designed by David McIntosh and John Twopenny, and it was opened in 1981 after eight months of construction and an investment of $ 100,000. The Big Rocking Horse remained under Wilkinson family's ownership for just over 20 years, although problems arose late in this period with an increase in insurance premiums. Although it remained structurally sound,
168-488: A township and by 1860 the town was laid out. Commercial businesses sprang up on the main street (Albert Street), and many fine buildings were erected, including the post office, police station and courthouse (1864), Gumeracha Institute, l ibrary and town hall (1909), a butter factory (1889), a school, a hospital, a coach-house, hotels, churches and business houses. Most of the buildings in use at that time still stand. William Beavis Randell's son, William Richard Randell , built
192-680: Is a town in the Adelaide Hills , South Australia , located on the Adelaide-Mannum Road . It is located in the Adelaide Hills Council local government area on the south bank of the upper River Torrens . The region relies heavily on grazing, dairying, grape growing, orchards, and market gardening. Its most prominent attraction is the Big Rocking Horse . The original inhabitants of the area were
216-421: Is not served by Adelaide's public transport system. As of 2010 LinkSA operates a coach service from Tea Tree Plaza Interchange at Modbury to Gumeracha and Mount Pleasant . Big Rocking Horse The Big Rocking Horse is a tourist attraction located in the town of Gumeracha , South Australia . Designed by David McIntosh, the structure weighs 25 tonnes, stands at over 18 metres (59 ft) tall, and
240-516: Is one of a number of Big Things in Australia designed to attract the attention of passing motorists. It is part of a larger complex that includes a wooden toy factory, wildlife park, and café. Owned by the Wilkinson family since the early 1970s, the complex was sold in 2004 and continues to operate today. In 1973, after opening a wooden toy factory in Gumeracha, owner Wal Wilkinson chose to add
264-504: Is the " biggest rocking horse in the world " – standing at 18.3 metres (60.0 ft) (approximately the height of a six-storey building), it is just east of the town on Main Road and serves to advertise the toy factory and wildlife park. Gumeracha is also home to Applewood Distillery, Australia's highest altitude distillery, specialising in gin and Amaro showcasing native Australian botanicals like finger limes and strawberry gum. The area
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#1732794182607288-479: The 2021 Australian census , Gumeracha had a population of 721 people. Gumeracha is the regional centre for the area. It contains a primary school, hospital, community centre, sports Adelaide Hills Council (the main office is at Woodside ). There is also a golf course in Kenton Valley south of the town. Several wineries operate in Gumeracha and in nearby areas. The most notable attraction of Gumeracha
312-646: The Peramangk people, and the name "Gumeracha" derives from an Aboriginal word meaning "fine waterhole". The area was one of the earliest settled by Europeans in South Australia . First to explore the district were Dr George Imlay and John Hill , on 24 January 1838. In 1839, the South Australia Company took up a parcel of land, on which the settlements of Gumeracha, Kenton Valley and Forreston developed. The company established
336-714: The Salem Baptist Church was built – the oldest Baptist church still in use in South Australia. The surrounding area, meanwhile, had become an agricultural centre, and the Gumeracha Farmers' Society held annual shows. In 1853, the District Council of Talunga was established to administer the Hundred of Talunga , including in large part the early Adelaide Hills pioneering community that would become Gumeracha. In 1855, Randell allocated land for
360-420: The Wilkinson family since the early 1970s, the complex was sold in 2004 and continues to operate today. In 1973, after opening a wooden toy factory in Gumeracha, owner Wal Wilkinson chose to add a large roadside attraction to the site in order to attract passing traffic. The first of these was a large wooden giraffe which stood at approximately 5 m (16 ft) in height. This was subsequently replaced by
384-405: The closure of the site to the public in 2001. Prior to this date, visitors had been able to ascend to a lookout tower on the head of the structure. In September 2003, Graeme Wilkinson placed the Toy Factory—including the Big Rocking Horse—on the market, at an asking price of approximately $ 900,000. It was sold in 2004 to Anthony Miller, who had emigrated from South Africa in 1999. Under Miller,
408-564: The first Murray River paddlesteamer in Gumeracha in 1852. In 1935, the District Council of Gumeracha replaced Talunga Council to administer a broader area around the town, centred at Gumeracha, the main point of population in that part of the Adelaide Hills. Gumeracha is located between Inglewood and Birdwood along the Adelaide-Mannum Road , and north of Lobethal along the Gumeracha-Lobethal Road. At
432-403: The structure was restored and reopened to the public, with visitor access to the viewing platforms available from April 2004. Changes made by Miller, including the reopening of the Big Rocking Horse and the removal of entrance fees to the associated wildlife park, saw an overall increase in visitor numbers to the complex from 65,000 in 2003 to 200,000 in 2006. In June 2009, the Big Rocking Horse
456-401: The structure was restored and reopened to the public, with visitor access to the viewing platforms available from April 2004. Changes made by Miller, including the reopening of the Big Rocking Horse and the removal of entrance fees to the associated wildlife park, saw an overall increase in visitor numbers to the complex from 65,000 in 2003 to 200,000 in 2006. In June 2009, the Big Rocking Horse
480-440: Was attached. Stairs inside the rocking horse lead to three viewing platforms: one at the head, one on the saddle, and a third on the "rocker bows" near the base of the structure. The Big Rocking Horse is part of a larger complex incorporating the toy factory, a café and a wildlife park. The factory sells a large range of wooden toys and souvenirs, while the wildlife park (which covers approximately 7 acres (2.8 ha)), features
504-437: Was attached. Stairs inside the rocking horse lead to three viewing platforms: one at the head, one on the saddle, and a third on the "rocker bows" near the base of the structure. The Big Rocking Horse is part of a larger complex incorporating the toy factory, a café and a wildlife park. The factory sells a large range of wooden toys and souvenirs, while the wildlife park (which covers approximately 7 acres (2.8 ha)), features
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#1732794182607528-435: Was designed by David McIntosh and John Twopenny, and it was opened in 1981 after eight months of construction and an investment of $ 100,000. The Big Rocking Horse remained under Wilkinson family's ownership for just over 20 years, although problems arose late in this period with an increase in insurance premiums. Although it remained structurally sound, a fall in 1999 and the change in liability insurance premiums resulted in
552-472: Was purchased by Frans and Lyn Gous, another family of business migrants from South Africa. The Big Rocking Horse 18.3 m (60 ft) in height and 17 m (56 ft) in length. The structure weighs 25 tonnes, and it is set in 80 tonnes of concrete to prevent rocking. The steel frame was fabricated by Halwell Engineering in Adelaide and transported by road to the site, after which the steel cladding
576-415: Was purchased by Frans and Lyn Gous, another family of business migrants from South Africa. The Big Rocking Horse 18.3 m (60 ft) in height and 17 m (56 ft) in length. The structure weighs 25 tonnes, and it is set in 80 tonnes of concrete to prevent rocking. The steel frame was fabricated by Halwell Engineering in Adelaide and transported by road to the site, after which the steel cladding
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