An idea for The Big Tulip could soon become a reality in the Southern Highlands.
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Travel website Wotif announced the finalists for Australia’s ‘Next Big Thing’ this week and The Big Tulip in Mittagong was on the list.
Destination Southern Highlands manager Steve Rosa said they found out about the promotion to build Australia’s next oversized tourist attraction a few weeks ago and decided to try and celebrate the annual Tulip Time event.
He said Tulip Time Southern Highlands was the oldest tulip festival- running for 58 consecutive years.
“Lets try celebrate that with a big thing. We know Australians love big things. It will recognise the great Tulip Time event we have each year,” he said.
“It’s [Southern Highlands] the home of tulips.”
The proposed Big Tulip would be located at the Welcome Centre in Mittagong which Mr Rosa said was the gateway to the Southern Highlands.
“Seventy per cent of people come through this entry point into the rest of the towns and villages.”
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He said it would be a single stem red tulip and a fibreglass and steel structure that was expected to be about five metres high.
The ‘Next Big Thing’ will be funded by Wotif.
While the main Tulip Time celebrations are in Bowral, Mr Rosa said they had rebranded the festival to Tulip Time Southern Highlands a few years ago to encourage more of the shire’s towns and villages to become involved.
Also on the shortlist are The Big Melon in Chinchilla (QLD), The Big Kilt in Glen Innes Highlands (NSW) and The Big Peanut in Kingaroy (QLD).
The vote is now in the hands of the Australian public with the winner of the ‘Next Big Thing’ to be determined in a two-week voting process which began on September 25 and will run until midday on October 9.
The winning entry will be built and unveiled by the end of the year.
Visit www.wotif.com/nextbigthing to vote.
