The Big Trout

We have written about the big stuff in Australia before - the Big Pheasant and the Big Banana - Australia loves big things and the Big Trout in Adaminaby, New South Wales, is one of them. Erected in 1973, the Big Trout was the brainchild of local resident and tourism advocate Rod Dent, who wanted to celebrate Adaminaby’s reputation as a premier trout fishing destination. The sculpture, which stands approximately 10 meters tall, was crafted by artist Andy Lomnici, a Hungarian  born Australian artist, using fiberglass and concrete.

By the early 2010s, the structure began to show significant wear and tear, with its paint fading and parts of its surface deteriorating. The need for restoration was evident, and in 2018, the Snowy Monaro Regional Council approved a refurbishment. The process involved structural repairs and a complete repaint, which was intended to bring new life to the aging fish. When the repaint was unveiled, it wasn't greeted with universal acclaim.

The Big Trout in November 2024

The issue arose from the choice of colors used in the restoration. Instead of the soft, natural hues that had defined the sculpture for decades, the new coat of paint was strikingly bright, with a vibrant mix of red, white, and black that some residents and visitors found garish. Many locals were dismayed by the transformation, arguing that it made the trout look unrealistic and out of place. Social media discussions and news reports covered the backlash, and even in France I was aware of the controversy.

Because of this, the Council commissioned another repaint in 2021 to restore a more traditional color scheme. This final repaint was widely welcomed, as it returned the trout to a look more in line with its original aesthetic. It's not the Big Trout as I remember it as a young man, but it's not as garish as it was before its latest incarnation.