Located in the main street of the farming town of Birchip in the Mallee region of Victoria. This imposing sculpture has been greeting visitors to the town since 1991 and is a reference to the legend of ‘Big Red’, the king of the mob. In the early days of settlement in the Mallee region the sheep and cattle would graze throughout the region. During the scorching summers many cattle strayed from the main herd in search of water at the water holes.
Legend has it that the wandering cattle were led by ‘Big Red’, a magnificent creature with a large build, resourcefulness and cunning which allowed him to escape his hunters and rivals and survive the fierce droughts and elements of the land. He put fear into the hearts of the early settlers and the natives with his roaring and rampaging as he fought to maintain his position as King of the mob. The Aborigines lived in fear of his visits as they had to share the same waterholes as Big Red and his mob. The early settlers would tell tell stories of ‘Big Red’ to their children and tell them ‘Big Red’ will get you if you misbehave.