He’s quite the sight isn’t he? This magnificent Koala. Standing tall and proud.
Welcome to Dadswells Bridge home of the Giant Koala. More than just a roadside attraction this 14-meter-tall bronze and fibreglass koala is a symbol of resilience. It’s a story of hope. A story born from tragedy.
In 2009 devastating bushfires ravaged Victoria. Images of a koala named Sam drinking water from a bottle shocked the world. Sam became a symbol of survival. Sadly Sam passed away. But the memory lived on.
The owners of the Giant Koala made a touching decision. They renamed the statue Sam. Honoring a courageous koala. Sam the Giant Koala. It was more than a name change. It was a tribute. A recognition of shared loss and hope.
This colossal koala wasn’t always Sam. It was originally built in the late 1980s. A project of visionaries Beryl and Jim Cowling. They wanted to draw visitors to their Koala Kountry Motor Inn. They succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.
Sculptor Ben van Zetten the creator of the equally impressive Map the Miner brought Sam to life. He used bronze fibreglass and an immense steel structure. The head was added later using a crane. Special fibreglass paste created the incredibly realistic fur. It took almost a year to complete.
There’s even a viewing platform inside Sam’s head. Sadly it never opened. There was no fire exit. A small price to pay to peer from a giant koala’s eyes.
Sam the Giant Koala opened in December 1988. The gift shop sold out of koala-shaped keychains. Dadswells Bridge’s population almost increased to 70.
Today Sam stands as a testament to the power of hope. A symbol of survival. A reminder of the beauty of Australian wildlife. A must-see destination.