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Quiz about How I Spent My Summer Vacation
Quiz about How I Spent My Summer Vacation

How I Spent My Summer Vacation Quiz


In short, I spent it travelling around Australia visiting some of the big tourist attractions to be found. Here's my back-to-school essay on the subject, with some questions to encourage audience participation.

A photo quiz by looney_tunes. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
looney_tunes
Time
5 mins
Type
Photo Quiz
Quiz #
340,020
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
2464
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: xxFruitcakexx (10/10), camhammer (10/10), ncrmd (10/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Our trip started in Adelaide, where we found this large figure adorning the front of our motel in the suburb of Medindie. Which of the following is the locals' nickname for the first 'big' attraction to be erected in Australia?

Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Driving east and over the border to Victoria, we stopped at Dadswells Bridge to see the Giant Koala. Dadswells Bridge is close to the town of Stawell, which is the centre of much attention on the Easter weekend every year, when the Stawell Gift is run. What kind of race is the Stawell Gift? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Continuing east, we reached the Hume Highway and turned north towards New South Wales. It took a slight detour to go see the town where this Big Ned Kelly stands, drawing tourists to the site of his famous last stand. In what town was Ned Kelly finally captured, despite his homemade armour? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. On the shores of Lake Eucumbene in the Snowy Mountains, we stopped to admire the Big Trout in Adaminaby. In 1957, the town of Adaminaby had to be relocated when the original was flooded because of the damming of the Eucumbene River to form Lake Eucumbene. What was the name of the massive engineering project of which this was a part? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Winding through the Snowy Mountains and out onto the Southern Tablelands, we reached Goulburn. Stopping for petrol, we noticed this rather impressive ram with a shop attached to his side. What breed of sheep, introduced to the colony by John MacArthur in 1804 because of its fine, soft wool, is "Rambo"? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Heading west, we stopped in Barellan, where the Big Tennis Racquet was erected in 2009 as a tribute to a Wiradjuri woman who grew up there, and won 14 Grand Slam titles, including Wimbledon in 1971 and 1980. Who is Barellan's most famous ex-resident, who was Australian of the year in 1971? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Way out west, near the South Australian border, we found the Big Ant, designed by Pro Hart. We were in a mining town, nicknamed "The Silver City" and "The Capital of the Outback", which was the original base for BHP Billiton. Outside what city's Tourist Information Office did we spot the Big Ant? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Heading back towards the coast, we arrived in Tamworth, home of the Big Golden Guitar. Tamworth is the home to a music festival featuring an awards ceremony in which winners are presented with a golden guitar on which the monument is modeled. What kind of music will you hear in Tamworth during the Australia Day weekend every January? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. We finally made it back to the NSW coast, and were able to visit the Big Banana, the first 'big thing' to open that was specifically designed to cater for tourists. Which of these cities is located in the centre of a banana-growing region? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. There were a lot more stops on our trip (Australia has over 150 officially registered 'big' tourist attractions), but it's time to bring this essay to a close, so we will skip to my personal favourite 'big thing', found on the roadside in Robertson, NSW, near the top of Macquarie Pass. Can you guess what agricultural product Robertson is renowned for producing? Hint



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Mar 03 2024 : xxFruitcakexx: 10/10
Feb 25 2024 : camhammer: 10/10
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Our trip started in Adelaide, where we found this large figure adorning the front of our motel in the suburb of Medindie. Which of the following is the locals' nickname for the first 'big' attraction to be erected in Australia?

Answer: Scotty

The Big Scotsman has been standing outside Scotty's Motel since 1963, making it the first recorded 'big' attraction. There is some dispute about this, however, since some deem that it was not built primarily as a tourist attraction, so should not count as the first. Most of these people are associated with the first 'big' attraction erected solely for tourists, which we will visit later on. Scotty was designed by Paul Kelly, who later also designed "Larry", the 17-metre (56-foot) tall Big Lobster for the tourist centre in Kingston SE, SA.
2. Driving east and over the border to Victoria, we stopped at Dadswells Bridge to see the Giant Koala. Dadswells Bridge is close to the town of Stawell, which is the centre of much attention on the Easter weekend every year, when the Stawell Gift is run. What kind of race is the Stawell Gift?

Answer: Running

The Stawell Gift is one of the world's richest running events. It is a handicap event, meaning that each runner starts at a different position as they run the nominal 120 metres (132 yards). There is much gambling on the event, which was first run in 1878, near the end of the Victorian gold rush, as a competition between miners.

The Giant Koala is made of bronze on a steel frame, and weighs in at around 12 tonnes. A close look at its beady eyes will dispel all those notions of cute and cuddly bears falsely borne by many tourists.
3. Continuing east, we reached the Hume Highway and turned north towards New South Wales. It took a slight detour to go see the town where this Big Ned Kelly stands, drawing tourists to the site of his famous last stand. In what town was Ned Kelly finally captured, despite his homemade armour?

Answer: Glenrowan

The Hume Highway now bypasses Glenrowan, but many tourists make the detour to see the Kelly exhibits and have a rest break. On 28 June 1880 the Kelly gang was cornered in the Glenrowan Inn, where they had taken about 70 hostages. In the ensuing shootout, two hostages died along with three of the four gang members. Ned Kelly was captured after being shot multiple times in his legs, which the armour did not protect.

He was hanged in Old Melbourne Gaol on 11 November 1880, reputedly saying "Such is life" as his final words.
4. On the shores of Lake Eucumbene in the Snowy Mountains, we stopped to admire the Big Trout in Adaminaby. In 1957, the town of Adaminaby had to be relocated when the original was flooded because of the damming of the Eucumbene River to form Lake Eucumbene. What was the name of the massive engineering project of which this was a part?

Answer: Snowy Mountains Scheme

While the other three projects all produced impressive dams, they were not constructed in Australia. Between 1949 and 1974 the Snowy Mountains Scheme produced a complex of dams, tunnels, pipelines and aqueducts that runs seven hydroelectric power stations, and provides significant irrigation to dry inland areas from the diverted mountain rivers. Much of the construction work was done by immigrant workers, and the large number needed contributed to rapid population growth and cultural diversification during the post-war period.

Lake Eucumbene is one of the best trout-fishing spots in southeastern Australia, and the Big Trout celebrates the value of visiting fishers to the small community. It was built in 1973 by Andy Lomnici, a resident of Adaminaby.
5. Winding through the Snowy Mountains and out onto the Southern Tablelands, we reached Goulburn. Stopping for petrol, we noticed this rather impressive ram with a shop attached to his side. What breed of sheep, introduced to the colony by John MacArthur in 1804 because of its fine, soft wool, is "Rambo"?

Answer: Merino

The Big Merino has long been a favourite stopping point for busses transporting people between Sydney and Melbourne, as well as with tourists. In 1994 the Hume Highway reconstruction meant that it no longer ran past the Big Merino, which was subsequently relocated to be back on the main road again. On the ground floor you will find the usual trashy trinkets sold as tourist souvenirs; the first floor has a display about the wool industry. If you are so inclined, you can climb to the top and look out through Rambo's eyes.

The merino has long been one of the most significant breeds of wool-producing sheep in Australia. The other breeds mentioned are meat-producing, not known for their wool.
6. Heading west, we stopped in Barellan, where the Big Tennis Racquet was erected in 2009 as a tribute to a Wiradjuri woman who grew up there, and won 14 Grand Slam titles, including Wimbledon in 1971 and 1980. Who is Barellan's most famous ex-resident, who was Australian of the year in 1971?

Answer: Evonne Goolagong

Evonne Goolagong grew up in Barellan, where Bill Kurtzman fostered her playing until she moved to Sydney under the sponsorship of Vic Edwards. In 1971 she won the French Open and her first Wimbledon title; the Australian Open was hers for four consecutive years from 1974 through 1977, as was the US Open from 1973 through 1976.

In 1976 she was actually the World Number One female tennis player for two weeks, but a computer glitch meant that it wasn't realized at the time, and her name only appeared in the records in 2007. Married to Roger Cawley, she now lives in Queensland where she runs tennis camps for youngsters hopeful of emulating her success.
7. Way out west, near the South Australian border, we found the Big Ant, designed by Pro Hart. We were in a mining town, nicknamed "The Silver City" and "The Capital of the Outback", which was the original base for BHP Billiton. Outside what city's Tourist Information Office did we spot the Big Ant?

Answer: Broken Hill

Broken Hill was originally a silver mining town, but the lead-zinc mining is what led to the international success of the Broken Hill Proprietary Company, now a part of BHP Billiton. The 'broken hill', actually a chain of hills with a break in them, that provided its name no longer exists, having been mined beyond recognition.

Pro Hart, who was born in Broken Hill in 1928, was one of the leading figures in the Australian Outback school of painting before his death in 2006. He designed the Big Ant for the hotel in Stephens Creek, a few miles north of Broken Hill. It was moved to Broken Hill in 1990, when it was donated to the city.

Anyone interested in a picnic?
8. Heading back towards the coast, we arrived in Tamworth, home of the Big Golden Guitar. Tamworth is the home to a music festival featuring an awards ceremony in which winners are presented with a golden guitar on which the monument is modeled. What kind of music will you hear in Tamworth during the Australia Day weekend every January?

Answer: Country

The Tamworth Country Music Festival includes the Country Music Awards of Australia, for which the trophy is a solid bronze guitar 325 mm (just over a foot) tall, on a wooden base. The Big Golden Guitar is about 12 m (40 ft) tall, and is made from fiberglass and wood. The official opening was conducted by Australian country music legend Slim Dusty in 1988.
9. We finally made it back to the NSW coast, and were able to visit the Big Banana, the first 'big thing' to open that was specifically designed to cater for tourists. Which of these cities is located in the centre of a banana-growing region?

Answer: Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour established the Bif Banana in 1964 to promote awareness of the local banana industry. Visitors can walk through the banana, inside which banana-related products are displayed, some available for purchasing. The site also features a (small) banana plantation, a waterslide, an ice skating rink, an indoor tobogganing slope, and a restaurant.
10. There were a lot more stops on our trip (Australia has over 150 officially registered 'big' tourist attractions), but it's time to bring this essay to a close, so we will skip to my personal favourite 'big thing', found on the roadside in Robertson, NSW, near the top of Macquarie Pass. Can you guess what agricultural product Robertson is renowned for producing?

Answer: Potatoes

Yes, it's the Big Potato. That's all there is, a brown lump beside the road, with a sign (which disappears periodically) welcoming you to Robertson. The concrete potato can be entered, and the inside is sprayed white to resemble potato flesh, although grafitti covered much of the surface the last time I visited.

This was planned to be the first stage of developing a Potato Information Centre, but funds ran out, and local interest has not been sufficient to drive the project to completion. In the words of Gershwin, "You say potayto, and I say potahto, ... Let's call the whole thing off."
Source: Author looney_tunes

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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