
On Friday 30 March 1990, the NSW Premier, Nick Greiner, opened Taree’s newest tourist attraction – the Big Oyster.1 An ‘oyster shop’ had traded in Taree as far back as 1886, but nothing quite like this!2
It was the brainchild of brothers, Attila and Louis Mokany, whose parents had migrated to Australia from Hungary in the 1950s. Their first venture into ‘Big Things’ had been the Big Merino at Goulburn, followed by the Big Prawn at Ballina and, finally, the Big Oyster.3
Construction pre-dated the by-pass of Taree, so the attraction stood on the Pacific Highway, visible to all traffic travelling the north coast route. The complex showcased the local oyster growing industry and incorporated, amongst other things, a service station, Australian arts and crafts and souvenir shops.4
It was built by Glenn Industries and utilised the skills of two sculptors, Tony Colangelo and James Martin.5 Construction proved very expensive, in excess of $700,000, and it is rumoured that some finishing touches, including a searchlight type of illuminated pearl, were never completed because of the expense.6
The Mokany’s company was wound up in 19957 and the Big Oyster closed in that year. In 1997 the Pacific Highway by-passed Taree depriving the site of its high visibility.8 The complex has since had a variety of uses and currently (2019) is home to a car dealership.
Author: Penny Teerman
References:
1 Manning River Times Tuesday 3 April 1990 Pg 3
2 Taree Municipal Council Rate Book 1886 Record No. 13
3 Goulburn Post November 26 2014
4 “Big Things” by David Clark 2004 published by Penguin
5 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-01/big-prawn-still-celebrates-ballina/9102600
6 “Big Things” by David Clark 2004 published by Penguin
7 Commonwealth of Australia Gazette Monday 15 May 1995 (Issue P16) Pg 20
8 Manning River Times 28 November 2013