THE huge fish that has been missing from outside The Big Trout Motor Inn on Oberon’s outskirts is back – and it is now part of an impressive new mural setting highlighting local features.
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People passing the motel on the Duckmaloi Road approach to Oberon had noticed the fish feature was missing for months during a $30,000 renovation makeover at the site.
The big fish has a long association with Oberon – it was installed a couple of days after the motor inn was officially opened 23 years ago.
Owner of the Big Trout Motor Inn, Kevin McGrath said the original rock wall behind the big trout icon was starting to collapse.
He said it was removed so the new wall could be built to support the fish.
Kevin said the three quarters of a tonne big trout was lifted out by crane and relocated for maintenance, and a fresh coat of paint. The whole process took seven months.
He said the big trout has become an Oberon icon and the motel answers hundreds of calls from visitors wanting to know where to find it.
“We have had visitors travel a couple of hundred kilometres just to have a look and take photos,” he said.
“We even had a visit from an author who is writing a book on all things big from around Australia – such as the big pineapple, big banana, big prawn and big mango.”
Kevin said signwriter Mark Taylor, of Marks Signage, is responsible for the wonderful result.
“Mark has put a lot of hours into this massive project. All I told him was I wanted a water fountain feature in the back corner of the mural.”
Mark said it wasn’t the perfect time of year to be painting as he only had a small window of opportunity through the winter days. “I couldn’t start until 10 in the morning or after the dew or frost had disappeared and I usually had to finish by 3pm, so the paint had time to dry,” he said.
Mark said Kevin gave him a free hand and he decided daffodils, a district map, the Oberon Dam, Oberon Railway Station and trout fishermen should feature.
Mark appreciated Kevin giving him the opportunity to tackle such a large project and he is now inspired to do more murals.