Latest news with #RockyVarapodio
The Advertiser
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
'Big Pear' showdown: the juicy rivalry growing in regional Australia
The regional Victorian town of Shepparton has announced plans to construct the world's largest pear. But there's a problem. The inner southern Canberra suburb of Parkes already has claimed the humble pear. Parkes hosts a cluster of oversized pear sculptures by acclaimed artist George Baldessin The iconic sculptures outside the National Gallery date back to the 1960s. But Shepparton's rich horticulture history could give it the edge. Nearly all of the fruit sold across the country comes from the Goulburn Valley. The project, spearheaded by the Shepparton Big Pear Steering Group chaired by former orchardist Rocky Varapodio, will take some serious fundraising. The group is seeking both private and public funding with the project estimated to cost $1.3 million and include an interpretive centre within the three-storey fibreglass pear structure. If constructed, it would mark the town's second "big thing" - after a 16m sculpture of a murray cod opened on the outskirts of the town earlier this year. Australia is already home to over 150 "Big Things", including the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour and the "Big Prawn" in Ballina. The eye-catching attractions draw attention to local businesses and promote tourism in the region. READ MORE: Cheese dream: scientists say dairy may cause nightmares The regional Victorian town of Shepparton has announced plans to construct the world's largest pear. But there's a problem. The inner southern Canberra suburb of Parkes already has claimed the humble pear. Parkes hosts a cluster of oversized pear sculptures by acclaimed artist George Baldessin The iconic sculptures outside the National Gallery date back to the 1960s. But Shepparton's rich horticulture history could give it the edge. Nearly all of the fruit sold across the country comes from the Goulburn Valley. The project, spearheaded by the Shepparton Big Pear Steering Group chaired by former orchardist Rocky Varapodio, will take some serious fundraising. The group is seeking both private and public funding with the project estimated to cost $1.3 million and include an interpretive centre within the three-storey fibreglass pear structure. If constructed, it would mark the town's second "big thing" - after a 16m sculpture of a murray cod opened on the outskirts of the town earlier this year. Australia is already home to over 150 "Big Things", including the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour and the "Big Prawn" in Ballina. The eye-catching attractions draw attention to local businesses and promote tourism in the region. READ MORE: Cheese dream: scientists say dairy may cause nightmares The regional Victorian town of Shepparton has announced plans to construct the world's largest pear. But there's a problem. The inner southern Canberra suburb of Parkes already has claimed the humble pear. Parkes hosts a cluster of oversized pear sculptures by acclaimed artist George Baldessin The iconic sculptures outside the National Gallery date back to the 1960s. But Shepparton's rich horticulture history could give it the edge. Nearly all of the fruit sold across the country comes from the Goulburn Valley. The project, spearheaded by the Shepparton Big Pear Steering Group chaired by former orchardist Rocky Varapodio, will take some serious fundraising. The group is seeking both private and public funding with the project estimated to cost $1.3 million and include an interpretive centre within the three-storey fibreglass pear structure. If constructed, it would mark the town's second "big thing" - after a 16m sculpture of a murray cod opened on the outskirts of the town earlier this year. Australia is already home to over 150 "Big Things", including the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour and the "Big Prawn" in Ballina. The eye-catching attractions draw attention to local businesses and promote tourism in the region. READ MORE: Cheese dream: scientists say dairy may cause nightmares The regional Victorian town of Shepparton has announced plans to construct the world's largest pear. But there's a problem. The inner southern Canberra suburb of Parkes already has claimed the humble pear. Parkes hosts a cluster of oversized pear sculptures by acclaimed artist George Baldessin The iconic sculptures outside the National Gallery date back to the 1960s. But Shepparton's rich horticulture history could give it the edge. Nearly all of the fruit sold across the country comes from the Goulburn Valley. The project, spearheaded by the Shepparton Big Pear Steering Group chaired by former orchardist Rocky Varapodio, will take some serious fundraising. The group is seeking both private and public funding with the project estimated to cost $1.3 million and include an interpretive centre within the three-storey fibreglass pear structure. If constructed, it would mark the town's second "big thing" - after a 16m sculpture of a murray cod opened on the outskirts of the town earlier this year. Australia is already home to over 150 "Big Things", including the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour and the "Big Prawn" in Ballina. The eye-catching attractions draw attention to local businesses and promote tourism in the region. READ MORE: Cheese dream: scientists say dairy may cause nightmares
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aussie town plans to build ‘biggest pear on Earth'
Australia is notorious for its oversized landmarks: there's the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour, the Big Prawn in Ballina, the Big Merino in Goulburn, but have you heard about the Big Pear? The Aussie town of Shepparton–in the heart of Victoria's Goulburn Valley–is planning to build the world's largest pear, and the cost of the fibreglass fruit alone is expected to be more than $1.3 million. The Goulburn Valley is renowned for its pears–with 90 per cent of the pears sold across Australia coming from the region. Australia is notorious for its oversized landmarks. There's the big banana in Coffs Harbour, the big prawn in Ballina, the Big Merino in Goulburn, but have you heard about the big pear, the Aussie town of Shepparton in the heart of Victoria's Goulburn Valley, is planning to build the world's largest pear, and the cost of the fibreglass fruit alone is expected to be more than $1.3 million. The Goulburn Valley is renowned for its pears, with 90% of the pears sold across Australia coming from there. A spokesperson for the group behind the landmark's proposal, Rocky Varapodio, told Triple M that the three-story pear would be telling a story about the region. He explained that the fruit industry has talked about having a structure in the region that symbolises and recognises fruit growing in the area. We think it's time to recognise this industry that's given so much to this region. Although Mr. Varapodio said it's hard to tell when the big pear will become a reality, he hopes it will be built in the next few years.
Courier-Mail
03-07-2025
- Business
- Courier-Mail
Shepperton, Victoria could build a giant pear in new tourism bid
Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Amid the success of Australia's 'big things', such as the Big Banana and the Big Pineapple, a Victorian town is now advocating to build the biggest pear on Earth. The city of Shepparton has a proposal for a three-storey pear right in the heart of the Goulburn Valley Rocky Varapodio, a spokesman for the steering group seeking to get the monument on the map and into reality, said these sorts of attractions can 'highlight' regional towns. A proposed Giant Pear to sit at the southern entrance of Shepparton. Picture: Bruce Mactier Building Designers 'We've been doing a lot of work on this and the background of it is that the fruit industry has really over the years talked about having a structure in the region that really symbolises and recognises fruit growing in the area,' he told Triple M. Mr Varapodio said the giant pear was about 'telling a story' about the region. 'We think the time is probably right now to recognise this industry that's given so much to this region,' he said. If constructed, it would mark the town's second 'big thing' - after a 16m sculpture of a murray cod opened at the Arcadia Native Fish Hatchery on the outskirts of the town. Australia has over 1000 'big' landmarks across the country - one of the most famous being the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour and the 'Big Prawn' in Ballina. Shepparton's proposed Giant Pear would join a smorgasbord of 'big' tourist attractions all over the country, such as the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour. Picture: Getty Images The Goulburn Valley is well known for its pears, with 90 per cent of the fruit sold across the country coming from the region. Mr Varapodio explained that potentially $2 million could be generated back into the economy, from the giant pear. Speaking to Guardian Australia, he said: 'What we would really like to achieve out of this is for it to be a structure that is in the shape of the pear, and looks like a pear, that will symbolise fruit growing in the region'. 'But, more importantly, we want it to be a really good experience when you enter into the pear – we want you to have an exceptional, interactive experience.' Early estimates have suggested the project could cost $1.3 million. The steering group is seeking funding from all levels of government to help get the project off the ground. Mr Varapodio explained the next step would be to get a structural design done, laying out his plan for it to be done 'properly and tastefully'. 'We want it to be a whole interactive experience when you walk into it with some really good technology such as touch screens and displays that really tell a story about this industry that's been so solid for this region,' he explained. 'It's hard to put a time frame on it but we would really like this to happen over the next few years.' Originally published as 'Exceptional': Victorian town to push for three-storey Big Pear in huge $1.3m tourism push
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bizarre giant pear proposal for Aussie town
Amid the success of Australia's 'big things', such as the Big Banana and the Big Pineapple, a Victorian town is now advocating to build the biggest pear on Earth. The city of Shepparton has a proposal for a three-storey pear in the heart of the Goulburn Valley, led by The Steering Group. Rocky Varapodio, a spokesman for the group, said these sorts of attractions can 'really highlight' regional towns. 'We've been doing a lot of work on this and the background of it is that the fruit industry has really over the years talked about having a structure in the region that really symbolises and recognises fruit growing in the area,' he told Triple M. Mr Varapodio said the giant pear was about 'telling a story' about the region. 'We think the time is probably right now to recognise this industry that's given so much to this region,' he said. The Goulburn Valley is well known for its pears, with 90% of the fruit sold across the country coming from the region. Mr Varapodio explained that potentially $2 million could be generated back into the economy, from the giant pear. However, early estimates have suggested the project could cost $1.3 million, with the steering group seeking government, council and stakeholder support to fund the idea. 'The next phase is to get a structural design done because we want it to be done properly and tastefully, we want it to be a whole interactive experience when you walk into it with some really good technology such as touch screens and displays that really tell a story about this industry that's been so solid for this region,' Mr Varapodio said. 'It's hard to put a time frame on it but we would really like this to happen over the next few years.'
News.com.au
03-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Shepperton could build a giant pear in new tourism bid
Amid the success of Australia's 'big things', such as the Big Banana and the Big Pineapple, a Victorian town is now advocating to build the biggest pear on Earth. The city of Shepparton has a proposal for a three-storey pear in the heart of the Goulburn Valley, led by The Steering Group. Rocky Varapodio, a spokesman for the group, said these sorts of attractions can 'really highlight' regional towns. 'We've been doing a lot of work on this and the background of it is that the fruit industry has really over the years talked about having a structure in the region that really symbolises and recognises fruit growing in the area,' he told Triple M. Mr Varapodio said the giant pear was about 'telling a story' about the region. 'We think the time is probably right now to recognise this industry that's given so much to this region,' he said. The Goulburn Valley is well known for its pears, with 90% of the fruit sold across the country coming from the region. Mr Varapodio explained that potentially $2 million could be generated back into the economy, from the giant pear. However, early estimates have suggested the project could cost $1.3 million, with the steering group seeking government, council and stakeholder support to fund the idea. 'The next phase is to get a structural design done because we want it to be done properly and tastefully, we want it to be a whole interactive experience when you walk into it with some really good technology such as touch screens and displays that really tell a story about this industry that's been so solid for this region,' Mr Varapodio said. 'It's hard to put a time frame on it but we would really like this to happen over the next few years.'
