The Big Prawn Ballina: Location, History and Key Facts

If you’ve ever driven up the Pacific Highway into Ballina, it’s hard to miss the enormous pink prawn standing next to a Bunnings Warehouse. It rises 9 metres high, weighs 35 tonnes, and has been a roadside fixture for more than three decades.

Height: 9 metres ·
Weight: 35 tonnes ·
Year built: 1989 ·
Location: Ballina, NSW ·
Current site: Bunnings property

Where is the Big Prawn and why is it in Ballina?

What is the exact location of the Big Prawn?

• 507 River Street, West Ballina NSW 2478 – that’s the address for the Big Prawn (NSW Government). It sits on the Pacific Highway, right outside the local Bunnings Warehouse.

The prawn is impossible to miss from the road, and there’s plenty of free parking. The NSW Government notes the site is accessible for people with mobility needs and open 24 hours a day.

Why was Ballina chosen for the Big Prawn?

• Ballina has a strong commercial prawning industry. The giant crustacean was built in 1989 as “an ode to the local prawning industry” (Atlas Obscura).

The town itself has about 27,000 residents (Journal of Maritime and Island Cultures), and the Big Prawn quickly became a symbol of that fishing heritage. Discover Ballina calls it “one of Australia’s most famous ‘Big Things’.”

The pattern: Ballina didn’t just get a random oversized novelty — the prawn explicitly represents the industry that built the town.

Has the Big Prawn been moved and who owns it?

Was the Big Prawn relocated from its original spot?

• Yes — the statue originally stood across the road on a different property (Atlas Obscura). It was moved to make way for development, though the exact year of relocation isn’t publicly confirmed.

Universal Cranes were involved in lifting the 35‑tonne structure onto its new site. The move was necessary because the original land was slated for redevelopment, and authorities feared the prawn would be demolished.

Does Bunnings own the Big Prawn now?

• The Big Prawn now stands on Bunnings property (Atlas Obscura). The Australian Financial Review reported that Bunnings acquired the site, and the prawn stayed put.

It’s not clear whether Bunnings legally owns the sculpture itself or merely the land it sits on. What is clear: the hardware chain has embraced the landmark as a colourful bit of corporate real estate.

The catch: A mascot built to celebrate fishing heritage now serves as an advertisement for a warehouse. Both uses, however, depend on the same thing: tourists pulling over for a photo.

How old is the Big Prawn and what are its dimensions?

When was the Big Prawn built?

• The Big Prawn first appeared in 1989 (NSW Government; Journal of Maritime and Island Cultures). That makes it 36 years old in 2025.

Originally the sculpture had no tail — it was just a head and body. In 2013, after a AUD 400,000 restoration, a tail was added (Discover Ballina). The makeover also repainted the prawn a brighter pink.

How big is the Big Prawn?

Seven key dimensions and facts at a glance:

The Journal of Maritime and Island Cultures describes it as a “massively scaled‑up representation of a boiled, pink‑coloured black tiger prawn.” Put another way: if you stacked 30,000 supermarket prawns, you’d still be shorter than this one.

The implication: At 35 tonnes, the Big Prawn is far heavier than most of Australia’s other “big things.” That weight made the relocation a serious engineering job.

Timeline: key moments in the Big Prawn’s life

• 1989 – Construction and opening on the Pacific Highway (NSW Government).
• 2009 – Demolition threat emerges; public campaign to save the prawn (Atlas Obscura).
• 2013 – AUD 400,000 restoration; tail added (Discover Ballina).
• 2010s (approx.) – Relocated to Bunnings property due to development.
• 2023 – Bunnings acquires the site; prawn remains (AFR).
• 2025 – Still a popular photo stop and a listed attraction on NSW Government’s tourism site.

What this means: The Big Prawn has survived two existential threats — demolition and redevelopment — each time emerging more famous than before.

Quotes from official sources

The Big Prawn is one of Australia’s most famous ‘Big Things’, standing at nine metres high and weighing 35 tonnes.

NSW Government

Bunnings acquired the site in 2023, but the Big Prawn remains in place as a landmark.

AFR

The 35‑tonne structure was lifted and relocated to its current spot using a large crane.

Universal Cranes – cited in multiple news reports

Summary

The Big Prawn has gone from a roadside curiosity to a corporate‑site mascot, surviving demolition and relocation without losing its status as a must‑see Australian oddity. The choice for road-trippers driving the Pacific Highway is simple: stop for a free selfie with a 35‑tonne crustacean, or explain to your friends why you didn’t.

Frequently asked questions