Big milestone for Bowen’s ‘Big Mango’

The Big Mango celebrated turning 21 on May 25, 2023. It’s estimated that 1.5 million people have taken their photo at this iconic 10-metre tourist attraction at the top of The Whitsundays, making it one of Australia’s most popular ‘Big Things’. The Aussie ‘Big Things’ are all drawcards for small agricultural towns like Bowen and play an important role in regional recovery.

Located just five kilometres south of Bowen on the Bruce Highway, The Big Mango weighs a whopping five tonnes, it’s made of fibreglass and was built in May 2002. Today the structure continues to attract an estimated 80,000 people a year with more than half of those calling into the Bowen Visitor Information Centre next door.

Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy, said the Big Mango represents something truly special for Bowen locals. “As a roadside tourist attraction, the Big Mango is an incredible asset to Bowen,” Ms Abernethy said.

“We believe it’s the world’s largest mango structure and it’s so great to see the entire community getting involved in celebrating this milestone. We’ve been running an online photo competition and we have other birthday activities planned to mark the milestone.”

With a population of about 11,000 and known as ‘the food bowl’ of The Whitsundays, Bowen supplies 10 percent of the entire Australian mango crop.

The Big Mango symbolises the Kensington Pride variety of mango, which is also known as the ‘Bowen Special’ and was the brainchild of a local doctor at the time, Geoff Ingham, who got the project underway by establishing the Big Mango Trust to help fund and build it. Costing $90,000 to build it was almost $60,000 over budget but 21 years later,

Bowen continues to reap huge rewards from the giant icon.

Chair of Bowen Tourism and Business, Jenn Honnery, said the Big Mango was named the Top Tourist Attraction in The Whitsundays Tourism Awards in 2022, and the Bowen Visitor Information Centre’s retail offering is also very popular.

Ms Honnery said: “There’s no doubt that a couple of publicity stunts have helped to elevate the Big Mango’s popularity. One saw the Big Mango ‘split in half’ early this year and the other was during 2014 when our Big Mango made headline news across the globe when it mysteriously ‘disappeared’ overnight.”

It was later revealed that the restaurant chain, Nando’s, was responsible for ‘stealing’ the Big Mango to promote their new Mango and Lime flavoured sauce.

“We were absolutely blown away by the media attention which certainly helped to put Bowen on the map,” Ms Honnery added.

“We have two big mangoes in Bowen. The second was donated by Nando’s in appreciation for the cooperation of our community. The Little Mango is six metres high and located on Santa Barbara Parade, in the middle of Bowen’s beautiful foreshore precinct.”

And Bowen?

It is a beach-lovers paradise with country town hospitality, situated on a headland overlooking the Whitsunday Islands. It’s home to eight secluded beaches, and worldfamous lookouts, and visitors can snorkel the fringing reefs directly off the beaches of Bowen.

About an hour drive from the Whitsundays mainland town of Airlie Beach, it’s easily accessible via the Whitsunday

Coast Airport with daily flights from capital cities. Bowen has a rich history, and visitors can explore its heritage through various historical sites. The Bowen Historical Society Museum showcases the town’s past, including artifacts and photographs. The Catalina Memorial and Catalina Park provide insights into Bowen’s significant role during World War II as a Catalina flying boat base. Bowen has also gained popularity as a filming location for movies, including the iconic Australian film “Australia” starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges for the accommodation industry in Bowen, like many other destinations it had to navigate uncertain waters and witnessed a sharp decline in bookings as travellers postponed or cancelled their plans. However, operators swiftly adapted to the new reality and embraced a shift toward domestic tourism.

Bowen’s accommodation industry has shown great resilience to weather the storm and is now poised for a solid travel rebound. With picturesque landscapes, inviting beaches, warm hospitality, and of course The Big Mango the region is positioned as a desirable destination for travellers seeking rejuvenation and exploration.