Have you ever imagined carrying two big things in your pocket—a giant lobster and a fossil cave?

Well, you can definitely do that now.

Two of Southeast’s most iconic moneymakers—Kingston’s Larry the Lobster and Naracoorte’s Fossil Mammal Reserves—are officially in mint condition, having received a unique new honour last week.

Larry the Lobster has been immortalised on a new $1 coin released by Australia Post, while Naracoorte’s Fossil Mammal Reserves, an Australian world heritage wonder, features on a new $5 coin released by the Royal Australian Mint.

The coin collection showcasing two of the southeast’s most beloved tourist attractions will be a huge boost to local tourism, with the holiday season starting soon.

Australia Post said it was celebrating Australians love affair with big, quirky sculptures with its latest $1 coin collection featuring some of the best-known ‘Big Things’, including The Big Pineapple, The Big Jumping Crocodile, The Big Banana, The Big Swoop, and The Big Lobster.

Company general manager retail product and supply chain Kayla Le Cornu said: “Our ‘Big Things’ are colourful, entertaining, and truly make their mark in so many local communities across Australia.

“We’re celebrating some of our most iconic ‘Big Things’ with this new coin collection, in partnership with the Royal Australian Mint.”

Member for MacKillop Nick McBride said it was such an honour to see “Larry” immortalised on the $1 coin.

“We are so lucky to have such an iconic tourist attraction in our region,” Mr McBride said.

“Many people won’t realise, but Larry was actually built for Katherine McBride’s father, Ian Backler, and his friend, Rob Moyse.

“Katherine’s parents owned the adjacent ‘Big Lobster’ Motel – and thought it would be a great idea to have a giant lobster to attract tourists to the town.

“They also wanted the lobster to be a gateway to the Southeast’s lucrative and important lobster industry.”

“I doubt they would have ever thought that ‘Larry’ would make it onto a $1 coin, and I know that Katherine’s father will be immensely proud to see this happen,” he said.

Responding to questions from this newspaper, the Royal Australian Mint said it partnered with the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) to produce the $5 coin in recognition of the 21st General Assembly and Scientific Symposium being held in Australia for the first time.

Designed by The Mint coin designer Tony Dean, the $5 frosted uncirculated coin features images of all 20 Australian World Heritage Properties, including the Naracoorte Fossil Mammal Reserves, in intricate detailed relief, which frames a full-colour, central image of a handprint, fan palm frond, and shell fossil to represent the natural and built icons and Australia’s Indigenous heritage.

The coin also features the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Obverse, designed by renowned British engraver Jody Clark.

Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities, and Treasury, Andrew Leigh, said World Heritage status helped to protect and publicise the existence of these extraordinary places.

“As Australians, we’re fortunate to live in a country with so much natural beauty.

“By celebrating Australia’s World Heritage sites through this collectable coin, the Royal Australian Mint is doing its bit to help spread the word about our magnificent natural and built heritage,” Dr Leigh said.

Australia’s heritage sites depicted on the coin are: Australian Convict Sites, Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens, Sydney Opera House, Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh/Naracoorte), Fraser Island (officially K’gari), Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, Great Barrier Reef, Greater Blue Mountains Area, Heard and McDonald Islands, Lord Howe Island Group, Macquarie Island, Ningaloo Coast, Purnululu National Park, Shark Bay (Western Australia), Wet Tropics of Queensland, Kakadu National Park, Tasmanian Wilderness, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, and Willandra Lakes Region.

The collectable coins are now on sale for the public, so don’t miss your chance to own this extraordinary piece of history.

This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.