https://steemitimages.com/DQmQo2mNqpbEkJqxQcK2TH5jVDG3ocV8qEgUPme1vZ4kv4x/Big%20Rocking%20Horse.jpg

Back in the 1980's Australia had an infinity with big things and none were bigger than this giant Rocking Horse located in Gumeracha, South Australia.

I remember visiting it as a child and was in awe of it's size, apparently I asked if it actually rocked, but that was probably just my active imagination wondering if we could rock off all the small people. Ha!

And yes you can actually climb to the top, although it's over 18 metres tall, so if you get vertigo then maybe just stop at the first level.

However, this site was established as a toy factory , and the Big Rocking Horse via a number of up-scaled iterations came later as a way to attract the gaze of passing motorists.

Now I must confess, I didn't go in this time, because last time I entered the Toy Shop my heart shrunk a little as my childhood memories of cool hand made toys were clouded by a number of 'Made in China' massed produced items sitting next to them.

It didn't sit well with me at the time, so I decided not to risk losing the last remaining images I have locked away of this great South Australia icon.

It appears they continue to produce handmade wooden toys at the factory, so perhaps I should have popped in for one last look. I might have been surprised and delighted, or not.

The Gumeracha Toy Factory also does factory tours during the week and these are typically aimed at school age children.

There's also a wildlife park onsite where you can get up and close with some of the local animals and some that aren't as local.

https://steemitimages.com/DQmPy6cKoWdjVTMTJSV9t5jATyu8m9MkhRU9ZbBhbqfQVyh/peacock.jpg

So the Gumeracha Toy Factory is definitely, worth the visit is you have small kids or are still a kid at heart and it's just down the road from the Birdswood National Motor Museum, which is another major draw card for motoring enthusiasts.

Fun Fact: The name Gumeracha was derived from an aboriginal word meaning 'fine waterhole' which in modern times still means somewhere to drink, like the pub.

So it seems like a good time to share Australia's other love.

https://steemitimages.com/DQmSjdgMNTQZAVG3Kggk6Gx9ocgeFPAtF2nwB37Ba6Kxzza/Car%20on%20Pole.jpg

Putting cars on poles.

Congratulations! Gumeracha I'm putting you on the map!

!steemitworldmap -34.821035 lat 138.891853 long Big Rocking Horse d3scr