General News
20 January, 2026
Big Cassowary gets a boost
A $20,000 boost to the Big Cassowary project in Kuranda has set the wheels in motion for the giant tourist attraction to be completed by the end of this year.
The project received funding from the Regional Art Fund (RAF) in December, which will be channelled towards artists painting the statue.
A community campaign was launched in April last year for the four-metre-high statue in Centenary Park, as a tribute to the large, distinctive bird, which roams through the wet tropics rainforests.
The project has the backing of the Mareeba Shire Council, and support from the Cassowary Art Trail, the Kuranda Conservation Community Nursery and the former Kuranda Trader Association.
The campaign aimed to raise more than $90,000 to get the project to starting point by December.
While those funds have still not reached the target, the RAF grant saved the project from closing and has built the coffers to a respectable $60,000.
“We are convinced we have a positive outcome, however, we still need some additional funding,” project team member Jurg Jutzi said last week.
“The $20,000 goes towards the artists to paint the Big Cassowary.
“It will transform Kuranda’s Village landscape, creating a unique connection to the community, rainforest and our commitment to conservation and will serve as a landmark public artwork for residents and visitors alike.”
Mr Jutzi said the project team is planning to form a group of five to six local artists by February.
“These artists will develop creative sketches for the imagery that will adorn the statue, ensuring it reflects the spirit of Kuranda.”
A timeframe for the project is to see the statue up by the end of 2026.
The Giant Cassowary is not the first statue of this beloved bird.
It will complement the Cassowary Art Trail (CAT), launched in 2022, which produced seven life-sized cassowaries, each painted with unique designs by local artists, and placed in locations in Kuranda, Port Douglas, Wangetti and Palmerston.
“Together with the art trail cassowaries, the Big Cassowary, is creating a special, must-see feature for the region, while also creating a broader awareness for the Southern Cassowary,” Mr Jutzi said in earlier reports.
To bring the project to completion, donations of any amount will help support materials and installation costs.
Donations can be made on the campaign webpage: www.cassowarytrail.com.au
Options are also available for advertisement on a large sign next to the BIG cassowary, with a one-off payment for permanent exposure. Information documents are also available at www.cassowarytrail.com.au
