Big Bulls

Last updated January 09, 2025

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Brahman bull, Yeppen roundabout. Welcome to Rockhampton. AU-Q-Rock-BigBull-Brahman-Welcome.jpg — Brahman bull, Yeppen roundabout. Welcome to Rockhampton.

The Big Bulls are a set of seven large statues of bulls that decorate the city of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.^[1] The set is regarded as one of Australia's big things and is intended to reinforce Rockhampton's claim to being the Beef Capital of Australia.^[2]^[3] Initially there were two bull statues but over time others were added reaching a total of seven. Five of the bulls were created by sculptor Hugh Anderson.^[4]^[5]

The theft of the testicles from the bulls is a common prank and they frequently have to be replaced.^[6] Some residents also feel that the bull statues overemphasise one aspect of the city and should be relocated to less prominent locations. However, there is strong public support for the retention of the bulls.^[7]

Locations

The first six bull statues are located near highways and major roads and were built to be realistic depictions of breeds of cattle raised in the area; the seventh was constructed as an art work for display at the Rockhampton Art Gallery.^[1] The bull statues are:^[1]


Breed	Location	Notes
Brahman	Yeppen roundabout at Fairy Bower, the junction of the Bruce Highway and Capricorn Highway ( 23°24′52″S150°29′51″E / 23.414329°S 150.497414°E / -23.414329; 150.497414 )	The bull is on a plinth indicating 'Welcome to Rockhampton', and 'Farewell from Rockhampton'.
Santa Gertrudis	Frank Forde Park on the northern side of the intersection of the Bruce Highway (also known as Gladstone Road) and Upper Dawson Road in Allenstown ( 23°24′27″S150°30′02″E / 23.407593°S 150.500426°E / -23.407593; 150.500426 )	Plaque listing (53 donors). In recognition of the contribution Santa Gertrudis have made to the beef industry. Arranged by Burnett Joyce. Opened by the mayor Ald. Jim Webber, 18 September 1985. 'Thanks to those who made it possible'
Romagnola	O'Shanesy Park on the north-eastern side of the intersection of the Bruce Highway (also known as Gladstone Road) and Jellicoe Street in Allenstown ( 23°24′28″S150°30′04″E / 23.407657°S 150.501140°E / -23.407657; 150.501140 )	Plaque: Romagnola Breeders' Society Ltd. has given this statue of a romagnola bull to the City of Rockhampton to commemorate the World Romagnola Congress. Unveiled by His Worship the Mayor Councillor James McRae on 13 April 1997
Braford	Median strip on the Bruce Highway (also known as Gladstone Road) just north of the intersection with Stanley Street in Allenstown ( 23°23′21″S150°30′25″E / 23.3892867°S 150.5068485°E / -23.3892867; 150.5068485 (Big Bulls (Braford), Rockhampton) )	Plaque: Rockhampton. The Beef City. This sculpture financed by (29 donors). Dedicated by the Honourable V. B. Sullivan M.L.A., Minister for Primary Industries on 16th. November 1978
Droughtmaster	roundabout on Hunter Street in front of the Rockhampton Airport in West Rockhampton ( 23°22′44″S150°28′47″E / 23.378917°S 150.479607°E / -23.378917; 150.479607 )	Plaque: Droughtmaster Stud Breeders' Society Limited. Commemorates the Production by the University of Central Queensland of this replica of the Droughtmaster, Australia's Own Beef Cattle Breed Evolved in Queensland, unveiled by Mr Stan Jones Q.C., The Chancellor of the University of Central Queensland, On Tuesday, April 19, 1994.
Brahman	Median strip of the Bruce Highway (also known as Yaamba Road) on the boundary of Park Avenue and Norman Gardens (opposite #411; 23°20′35″S150°31′14″E / 23.343126°S 150.520673°E / -23.343126; 150.520673 )	Plaque: Rockhampton. The Beef City. This sculpture financed by (40 donors). Dedicated by the Honourable V. B. Sullivan M.L.A., Minister for Primary Industries on 16th. November 1978
Art work	At the entrance to Rockhampton Art Gallery, 62 Victoria Parade in Rockhampton City beside the Fitzroy River ( 23°22′21″S150°30′33″E / 23.372636°S 150.509126°E / -23.372636; 150.509126 )	'Under the Hammer', a sculpture by Daniel Clemmett made from car bonnet skins in 2011^[8]

Other bulls

Within Rockhampton, there are other bull statues, including:

Stockman's Corner clothing store, 9 Gladstone Road, Allenstown. A white bull is raised above the store awning;
The Lionleigh Pub, 1 Wandal Road, Wandal. A brown bull stands atop the awning of the pub;
'Lease-A-Bull', 184 Musgrave Street, Berserker. A braford bull, on top of a building awning; and
Korte's Resort, 984 Yaamba Road, Parkhurst. The entrance to the motel has three beige bulls together.

Proposed bulls

In 2021, the Belmont Red Breed Society bemoaned the fact their breed was not yet represented in the series of statues despite it having been developed at the Belmont Research Station near Rockhampton.^[9] President of the Belmont Red Breed Society, Jeanne Seifert said a statue of a Belmont Red bull would not only be a good focal point for visitors to the city but also a tribute to the contribution which had been made by scientists and the CSIRO.^[9] Her father, Dr George Seifert, was a principal research scientist based at the Belmont Research Station, credited with helping develop the composition of the breed.^[9]

Related Research Articles

Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the population of Rockhampton was 79,293. A common nickname for Rockhampton is 'Rocky', and the demonym of Rockhampton is Rockhamptonite.

The big things of Australia are large structures, some of which are novelty architecture and some sculptures. In Australia, big things have come to be seen as a uniquely Australian phenomenon, although they emerged at the same time as the so-called Roadside Giants of the United States. These structures have become affectionately known landmarks scattered throughout the country. In 2022, there were just over 1075 big things in Australia. There are big things in each state and some territories in continental Australia.

Gracemere is a rural town and locality in the Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Gracemere had a population of 12,023 people.

Kinka Beach is a coastal rural locality in the Livingstone Shire, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Kinka Beach had a population of 674 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockhampton Airport</span> Airport in Queensland, Australia

Rockhampton Airport is a major Australian regional airport in West Rockhampton, Queensland that services the city of Rockhampton, with direct flights to various major centres in Queensland, as well as Melbourne in Victoria. Flights have previously operated to the New South Wales capital, but were discontinued due to lack of interest in Sydney. The airport runway has the capability to handle aircraft such as the Airbus A380, Boeing 747 and Boeing 777.

Rockhampton City is the central suburb of the city of Rockhampton in the Rockhampton Region of Queensland, Australia. It is also known as the Rockhampton CBD. In the 2021 census, Rockhampton City had a population of 2,059 people.

Wandal is a suburb of Rockhampton in the Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Wandal had a population of 3,949 people.

Belmont Red is a breed of beef cattle developed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) during 1954 in response to the need in the Australian Tropics for cattle which would improve the fertility of Bos indicus cattle. The breed was conceived at Belmont Research Station near Rockhampton, Queensland as a composite from several Bos taurus breeds: Africander, Hereford and Shorthorn. The breed was released to Australian breeders by the CSIRO in 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Rockhampton, Queensland</span> Suburb of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

West Rockhampton is a suburb of Rockhampton in the Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, West Rockhampton had a population of 1,848 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allenstown, Queensland</span> Suburb of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

Allenstown is an inner southern suburb of Rockhampton, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. It is situated 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi) by road south-west of the Rockhampton CBD. In the 2021 census, Allenstown had a population of 2,762 people.

Kawana is a suburb of Rockhampton in the Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Kawana had a population of 4,434 people.

Lammermoor is a coastal locality on the Capricorn Coast in the Livingstone Shire, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Lammermoor had a population of 2,551 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bajool, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Bajool is a rural town and locality in the Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Bajool had a population of 447 people.

Yaamba is a rural town and locality in the Livingstone Shire, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Yaamba had a population of 51 people.

Park Avenue is a suburb of Rockhampton in the Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Park Avenue had a population of 5,292 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairy Bower, Queensland</span> Suburb of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

Fairy Bower is an outer suburb of Rockhampton in the Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Fairy Bower had a population of 99 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norman Gardens, Queensland</span> Suburb of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

Norman Gardens is a suburb in the Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Norman Gardens had a population of 10,534 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Curtis, Queensland</span> Suburb of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

Port Curtis is a suburb of Rockhampton in the Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Port Curtis had a population of 309 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alton Downs, Queensland</span> Suburb of Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia

Alton Downs is a rural locality in the Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Alton Downs had a population of 1,324 people.

Nankin is a rural locality in the Livingstone Shire, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Nankin had a population of 176 people.

References

1 2 3 "Where's the Beef?". Rockhampton Art Gallery. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
↑ Clark, David (2004). Big Things: Australia's Amazing Roadside Attractions. Penguin Books. pp. 10–13. ISBN 0-14-300200-7.
↑ Robinson, Paul; Farrow-Smith, Elloise; Saunders, Miranda (17 April 2014). "An ownership row has erupted over who holds Australia's Beef Capital title". ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
↑ Clark, Big Things, p. 10-13.
↑ "Where's the Beef?". Rockhampton Art Gallery. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
↑ Hatzakis, Maria (22 April 2010). "Oh balls: vandals target Rocky bulls". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Commission. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
↑ Whop, Marlina (20 November 2013). "Tourism group rears up over Rockhampton bull statues". ABC News . Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
↑ "Rockhampton Bull Map: Where's the Beef?". Issuu. 11 December 2020. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
1 2 3 Harden, Ben (26 September 2021). "Belmont Red statue would be "long time coming" for Rockhampton says breed society". Queensland Country Life. Australian Community Media. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2021.

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[:0-1] 1 2 3 "Where's the Beef?". Rockhampton Art Gallery. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.

[2] Clark, David (2004). Big Things: Australia's Amazing Roadside Attractions. Penguin Books. pp. 10–13. ISBN 0-14-300200-7.

[3] Robinson, Paul; Farrow-Smith, Elloise; Saunders, Miranda (17 April 2014). "An ownership row has erupted over who holds Australia's Beef Capital title". ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.

[4] Clark, Big Things, p. 10-13.

[5] "Where's the Beef?". Rockhampton Art Gallery. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.

[6] Hatzakis, Maria (22 April 2010). "Oh balls: vandals target Rocky bulls". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Commission. Retrieved 10 March 2018.

[7] Whop, Marlina (20 November 2013). "Tourism group rears up over Rockhampton bull statues". ABC News . Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.

[8] "Rockhampton Bull Map: Where's the Beef?". Issuu. 11 December 2020. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.

[belmont-9] 1 2 3 Harden, Ben (26 September 2021). "Belmont Red statue would be "long time coming" for Rockhampton says breed society". Queensland Country Life. Australian Community Media. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2021.

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