13 Locals, One Giant Fly Swat And A Very Aussie Idea!
There’s something about small Aussie towns. Give them a pub, a few good ideas and a sense of humour, and who knows what they’ll come up with!
In the tiny Outback South Australian town of Kingoonya, population 13, the locals have come up with an absolute cracker.
A giant fly swat.
And we reckon this might be one of the most Australian things we’ve seen in a while.
A Big Idea From A Tiny Town
Located about 40 kilometres west of Glendambo, Kingoonya has a pub, a café, a caravan park and not a sealed road in sight.
But now it’s also home to the Big Fly Swat, officially launched on Monday, November 9.
And where did the idea come from? The pub, of course!
Caravan park operator Leesa Carty recalls a brainstorming session where locals were tossing around ideas for their very own ‘big thing’.
With fly swats already sitting on the pub tables, the answer was staring them right in the face.
Leesa recalls the moment she and former Kingoonya publican John Brett had the same idea.
“I looked down and was about to say ‘fly swat’ and John said ‘fly swat’ and it was just one of those ‘snap’ moments.”
Built Tough For The Outback
Funded by the Outback Communities Authority and managed by the Kingoonya Progress Association, the project brought together plenty of regional talent.
Jethro Holmes from Wirrulla Engineering led the fabrication, Streaky Bay artist Warren Schultz created the giant fly from recycled materials, and Mammi’s Spray Painting in Smoky Bay handled the paintwork.
Made from steel, the swat is built to withstand the Outback’s extreme heat, dust storms and harsh conditions.
And yes, it’s positioned at the perfect height for a selfie!
A Little Town With Big Ideas
While the giant fly swat is good for a laugh, there’s also a bigger reason behind it.
The community hopes the attraction will encourage more travellers to turn off the Stuart Highway, visit Kingoonya and support its local businesses.
And that’s what we love about this story. A town of just 13 people, a slightly ridiculous idea and a community willing to give it a go.
So if you’re travelling through the Outback, Kingoonya might be worth a little detour.
And while you’re there, grab a bite, stop at the pub and support the locals.
After all, they’ve gone to a fair bit of trouble to swat up some business!
