Cast us a line to help fashion a fix for Adaminaby’s famous fish

A preview of the four design options for the Adaminaby Big Trout

Snowy Monaro Regional Council is seeking community feedback to help select the final paint design for the recently restored Adaminaby Big Trout.

The country’s most famous fish, created by renowned artist Andy Lomnici and unveiled in 1973, underwent extensive maintenance and restoration works in late 2023 to ensure its longevity. However, the new paint scheme applied during the restoration raised some concerns within the community.

Our community, regular visitors and admirers across the country feel a deep connection to the Adaminaby Big Trout and what it represents. Council commissioned the designs, taking inspiration from the original design, community and well-known aquatic wildlife artist Trevor Hawkins on the direction, of the options that you can now select as the final paint job.

‘The Big Trout holds a special place in the hearts of Adaminaby locals and people across the country,’ said Mayor Chris Hanna. ‘We want to ensure the final look does a better job of honouring this important landmark.’

This work is part of a larger project that will see the surrounding parks, gardens and facilities upgraded and revitalised alongside the Big Trout, thanks to a grant from the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund.

It’s now up to the public to decide which design will adorn this iconic sculpture for the long term. The community is invited to view the proposed designs and vote for their preferred option through an online survey at https://qrco.de/vote4atrout before 11:59pm on Sunday 21 April 2024.

An in-person consultation will also be held on Saturday 29 March 2024 at the Adaminaby Easter Fair from 9am to 2pm, where residents can view the designs and provide feedback directly to Council staff.

The design that receives the most votes will be applied to the Big Trout sculpture by painters by mid-2024.

‘We are committed to getting this right and making sure that the Big Trout is something our community can be proud of for a long time to come,’ said Mayor Hanna.

/Public Release. View in full here.