Big Pineapple
| Big Pineapple | |
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| General information | |
| Location | Woombye, Queensland, Australia |
| Coordinates | 26°40′21.62″S 152°59′26.81″E / 26.6726722°S 152.9907806°ECoordinates: 26°40′21.62″S 152°59′26.81″E / 26.6726722°S 152.9907806°E |
| Opened | 15 August 1971 |
| Owner |
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| Height | 16 metres (52 ft) tall 2 levels |
The Big Pineapple is a heritage-listed tourist attraction on the Sunshine Coast in South East Queensland, Australia. It is 16 metres high and was originally opened on the 15 of August 1971. It is situated on a 165 hectare site.
Under new ownership the owners are facilitating new attractions such as the award-winning Big Pineapple Music Festival and the Big Pineapple was also selected to host Midnight Oil within their reunion concert series later in 2017.
The owners are also embarking on a master planning process through community consultation to further rejuvenate the Big Pineapple experience, with a range of new attractions and services proposed.
In 1971, Mr & Mrs Bill Taylor purchased a modest pineapple farm of 23 hectares on the coast side of the Bruce Highway. The Big Pineapple was opened by the Minister for Labour and Tourism, the late John Herbert on 15 August 1971. In 1972, the attraction was the recipient of the first award presented by the Australian National Travel Association for a tourist development in Queensland.
At 3:00 am on 11 September 1978, the building housing the tropical market and restaurant was completely destroyed by fire following an attempted burglary. The then Governor-General, Sir Zelman Cowen, opened the new complex on 19 December, just three months later. The purchase by Lanray Industries occurred in 1981.
In 1984, the Nutcountry Tour was extended to take in a section of rainforest in the redesigned Nutmobile, verandahs were added to the main upstairs restaurant, the Queensland's Hidden Treasures exhibit was opened presenting an array of Queensland's gems and minerals, in natural form (in the rough) and as finished jewellery and Troppo's Restaurant was opened. Troppo's subsequently changed its name to Plantations Restaurant. Queensland Press Limited became the new owner of the Big Pineapple in 1985. In 1986, eight more properties were acquired bringing the total land holdings to 113 hectares.
1987 saw land purchased on the southern side of the highway, which allowed the construction of new car parking facilities, accommodating a further 20 coaches and 420 cars. A pedestrian bridge was constructed to span the highway. The Big Pineapple underwent a major redevelopment. The main upstairs restaurant was doubled in size. A new reception area and tourist information centre was added. The Big Pineapple was refurbished and relocated.
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Wikipedia