Big Gun

Have you ever seen a gun so big you could almost walk under its barrel? This gigantic piece of metal, perched high on a pedestal, is no ordinary gun. The Big Gun, as it’s called, is a 155mm M1A1 “Long Tom” field artillery gun. It was crafted in America, a symbol of power and might during World War II. This Big Gun, however, wasn’t used for warfare. It was brought to Australia and eventually found its way to Springwood, a suburb of Brisbane. It wasn’t used for military purposes. In 1958, Bernie Smallwood purchased five of these guns and he had four cut up for scrap. The other was kept and for many years, it stood in his wrecking yard.
In 1972, Bruno Laspina, a local entrepreneur, was looking for a way to draw attention to his new fruit market, “The Big Gun Fruit Mart”. He decided to hoist the massive gun onto the roof of his market. The gun became a local landmark, a reminder of a bygone era. The fruit market thrived for years until in 2004, after the property was redeveloped, the gun found its new home on a custom-built stand. Now, you can stand in front of the Big Gun, its massive barrel pointing towards the sky, and imagine the stories it could tell.
The Big Gun has been a part of the Brisbane landscape for decades. A piece of history, a symbol of resilience, a testament to the ingenuity of man. If you look closely, you can almost see the ghosts of soldiers, farmers, and fruit sellers who have stood in its shadow. The Big Gun is a reminder that even in the most unexpected places, history can be found. It’s a place for reflection, a conversation starter, and a reminder of the power of stories.