This article was originally published in print in the Swan Hill Guardian on May 21, 2021.
ARNOLD has become an iconic tourist attraction in Swan Hill, for residents and visitors alike, some of whom even jump into his big fishy mouth.
But many of the region’s residents don’t even know that the town’s Giant Murray Cod has a name.
The giant cod statue is synonymous with the fish that swim along the Murray River as it twists its way between Victoria and NSW – and it just celebrated its 30th birthday.
Arnold’s home is outside Swan Hill railway station near the car park. As published in Big Things: Australia’s Amazing Roadside Attractions by David Clark, the “colossal cod” measures 15 metres long by 5.2m wide and is three metres high.
Mr Clark said the original cod was built out of steel and timber in Melbourne in 1991, and transported to nearby Speewa, 12km north-west of Swan Hill, to be used as the main prop for the feature film Eight Ball.
“Specimens of the real Murray River cod have been caught weighing up to 80 kilograms,” he said. “But the townsfolk of Swan Hill have landed one bigger – much bigger. There’s never been a fish of this scale before.”
Mr Clark said he believed Eight Ball was the only film where an Australian “Big Thing” had been crucial to the plot.
The Big Things are large iconic statues around Australia, including the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour, The Big Golden Guitar in Tamworth, The Big Koala in Cowes and The Big Prawn in West Ballina.
Eight Ball focused on Charlie, a young man with everything going for him, and Russell, who is the complete opposite.
“As the story opens, Charlie is designing a giant fibreglass Murray River cod, which is to be a new tourist attraction in Swan Hill.
The film was released in 1992, and featured Australian actor Frankie J Holden.
Mr Clark said Arnold costed around $35,000 to build.
“So, after the shoot was completed, the producers generously donated it to the community of Swan Hill, whereupon the local council immediately formed a Murray Cod sub-committee,” he said.
“The original timber-framed structure was coated with fibreglass by Grizzly Engineering, who also painted the Giant Murray Cod.
“Meanwhile, an almighty debate was raging about where to locate the cod. VicRoads refused approval for the first site at a roundabout in the middle of town on the grounds that it would distract motorists.”
Mr Clark said it was eventually decided Arnold would move to the V/Line car park outside the railway station, despite initial objections from the local Rotary Club, because part of its regular trash-and-treasure market site would be lost.
“It was finally unveiled in March 1992,” he said.
The Giant Murray Cod was refurbished in 1999 with a $12,400 grant from the Victorian State Government, matched dollar-for-dollar by the local council.
In 2018 it was repainted by Leanne George, Carol Webb and Tracy McLoughlan.
Mr Clark said although the “fabulous fish” was easily the biggest and the most impressive of Australia’s fishy Big Things, it had raised the hackles of the people of Tocumwal who have jealously guarded their own big cod since 1967.
“Tocumwalians are dismissive of their larger rival,” Mr Clark said. “They reckon this one isn’t a Murray cod at all, but a Murray trout.”
The Murray Cod’s scientific name is Maccullochella Peeli.
The sign where Arnold stands says: “Catches of 180lb (81 kilograms) were not uncommon, and today an occasional large example is landed in the Swan Hill area.
“Conscious of a threat to his existence, conservation bodies are today breeding Murray cod and introducing them into Victorian and New South Wales waters.”
Arnold was 30 years old on May 13.
Lillian Altman 