Could Big Pineapple bear fruit for new owners? (original) (raw)

By Tony Moore

Updated January 28, 2017 — 11.12am

There was a time when it seemed everyone in south-east Queensland had visited the Big Pineapple.

Today countless Queenslanders of a certain vintage can remember being served a fruit salad in half a pineapple there – big pineapple chunks put back into the half-husk, smothered with ice-cream and cream.

New plans are emerging for the Big Pineapple in Woombye near Nambour.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

They were a dietician's delight. Fruit, liquid sunshine and just a little sugar.

The Big Pineapple, near Nambour on the Sunshine Coast, opened its spiky doors in 1971.

The attraction was a cultural hub in the 1970s and 1980s.Credit: Glenn Hunt

The attraction was a cultural hub in the 1970s and 1980s, attracting a million visitors a year by the mid-1980s.

Kids would pester their parents to climb up inside the big pine.

It had its own bumpy little train ride around the pineapple farm – the Nutmobile – and by 2006 it was recognised by the National Trust and by 2009 on Queensland Heritage Register.

Yet by 2010 the Big Pineapple went into receivership. Surely time and fashion would be kinder to the Queensland tourism institution.

But buyers came and buyers went.

Now two new owners, Brad Rankin and Peter Kendall, are beginning to look at what else can be done on the 170 hectares of land straddling both sides of Nambour Connection Road.

The men, who work in the Sunshine Coast construction industry, want the community to help them put together a master plan for the site.

They are suggesting a family fun park, a travel centre, food-based tourism, an eco-tourism destination with walking trails, outdoor sport and recreation, educational facilities, health and wellbeing services.

It could have tourist accommodation such as a holiday RV park and glamping sites, Mr Rankin said.

"We understand many people have fond memories of their visits to the Big Pineapple, and would like to see a positive future for this tourism icon following years of uncertainty," Mr Kendall said.

"As investors, we see considerable potential for the expansion of the current zoning, uses and attractions on the site," Mr Kendall said.

'We can build from the strength of the iconic Big Pineapple brand and Sunshine Coast hinterland location.

"A portion of the site is zoned tourism, providing existing development opportunities.

"But with the scale of the 169ha landholding there are opportunities for a diverse range of attractions and experiences.

"We are also very optimistic about the future of the Sunshine Coast and have ambition that the Big Pineapple can again become a central part of the local tourism experience and a strong contributor to the hinterland economy."

The region already hosts the annual Big Pineapple Music Festival and a new wildlife zoo.

"We want to add to what is already here, complementing the current Big Pineapple visitor areas, Pineapple Train, the zoo, community and business uses, and music and events spaces, in addition to the heritage and environmental values which we are committed to protecting," Mr Rankin said.

As long as those fruit salads stay.

Have your say on the future of the Big Pineapple on February 18 at a drop-in community information session.

The Big Pineapple project team can be contacted by emailing bigpineapple@cprgroup.com.au or phoning 1800 100 204 to discuss the project or RSVP for the community information session.

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