World’s Biggest Tractor in Carnamah celebrates its first birthday and status as popular tourist attraction

A year after its grand unveiling, the world’s biggest tractor continues to turn heads in Carnamah, and it has quickly become one of the Mid West’s most recognisable landmarks.

Standing 11.5m high and 16m long, the enormous orange replica of a Chamberlain 40K tractor towers over Yarra Street, a tribute to Western Australia’s agricultural and manufacturing heritage.

“The big tractor has put Carnamah on the map,” Shire of Carnamah president Merle Isbister said this week.

“In the last couple of months, we have had a continual stream of people driving through, stopping at the Big Tractor, lots of caravans and cars from all over Australia . . . people from Tasmania who specifically came across to have a look at it.”

“A couple of weekends ago, there were four little planes that flew in from Wongan Hills to have a look at it, so people are making it a special trip to come and have a look and then move on to the museum, partake in meals and enjoy the rest of the community.”

The monument was officially unveiled on October 5 last year during the North Midlands Country Carnival, following six years of planning and fundraising.

It was built by Geraldton-based DIAB Engineering with the $654,000 project requiring 42 tonnes of steel. The replica is five times the size of the original Chamberlain 40K, the first tractor manufactured in WA in 1949.

As well as the constant stream of vehicles, the local museum is reporting an increase in foot traffic, with 20 people coming through each day to have a look at the original Chamberlain tractor, which will soon be housed in its own shed built alongside the big tractor.

“It’s sometimes difficult to get parking, with a number of caravans and cars that have banked up to have a look and just see what’s going on,” Ms Isbister said.

After recent funding the big tractor committee has invested in solar lighting for the landmark.

“It’s quite well set up because we’ve got the grain man in front with the lights on, and then the big tractor at the back with the lights shining up,” Ms Isbister said.

Big Tractor Project chair Brendon Haeusler, who was even promoting the icon to travellers heading west on his recent trip to Darwin, said the landmark’s appeal was far and wide.

“There’s people come from all over the country and overseas that have made the big tractor their focal point when they’re coming over to WA,” he said.

“For the town, it’s a bit of a sense of pride, I suppose, for the community. We have people selling the merchandise and having a chat to everyone, letting them know what’s around and a bit of the history.”

Speaking of merch, Carnamah has Big Tractor stickers, hats, stubby holders, T-shirts and fridge magnets. For the sweet tooth the local cafe is baking Big Tractor cookies and there’s also talk of a Big Tractor burger in the works.

Tracmach founding president Bob Lukins, who came up with the idea about 30 years ago, said it was heartwarming to see his long-time dream come to fruition, a tribute not just to the Chamberlain name, but to the farmers and makers who built Western Australia.