About
Matilda the mighty kangaroo towers 13 metres above the Traveston fuel station on the Bruce Highway, making her impossible to miss! This 6-tonne fibreglass hopper has quite the pedigree--she started life as the iconic mascot for the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, complete with a mechanical head and blinking eyes that delighted crowds. After bouncing around the Gold Coast for several years, this famous hopper finally settled into her permanent home on the Bruce Highway north of Brisbane, becoming one of Queensland's most recognizable roadside attractions. The sculpture celebrates Traveston's position as a key stop on one of Australia's busiest north-south highways, offering travellers a perfect photo opportunity and rest point. This Big Thing represents both Queensland's sporting pride and the enduring appeal of oversized iconic figures in Australian road trip culture.
Fun Fact
Matilda the kangaroo was originally commissioned as the beloved mascot for the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games, becoming an iconic symbol of Queensland's sporting pride. After her starring role welcoming the world to Queensland, she was repositioned multiple times before finding her permanent home at the Traveston fuel station on the Bruce Highway. Red kangaroos are Australia's largest land mammals and can leap up to 10 metres in a single bound. Matilda's 13-metre height makes her visible from great distances, drawing countless travellers seeking this famous photo opportunity on their journeys along Australia's busiest north-south highway.
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