The campaign group was started by a group of Kingaroy friends, who said Kingaroy needed a Big Peanut to lure tourists. "We just thought it was ridiculous that we didn't have one," Ms Board said. "So one afternoon, after a few drinks we thought, 'Damn it, let's do something about it'." "My friend, Susan Harvey, pressed go on the Facebook page and it immediately exploded to over 1000 followers." The idea was originally to build something of the scale of the Big Pineapple at Woombye.

A big peanut near the Japanese city of Nagoya serves as inspiration on the group's Facebook site. It has been scaled back a little, to become a two-storey high peanut resting on its side where people could walk inside, similar to Gayndah's Big Orange, or Coffs Harbour's Big Banana, she said. The Big Peanut will be built at the front of the Kingaroy Bowls Club because it is on the main highway. "The bowls club was looking at expanding and growing its capacity and they're on Australia's Country Way, which is the inland tourist route," Ms Board said. "So they will capture the tourists coming past, they already have parking, they already have toilets, they already have a bar, they already have kitchen facilities.

"It really does tick a lot of boxes." Ms Board said the townspeople genuinely supported the idea and want to help fund the idea. The community group has also already approached the Peanut Company of Australia (PCA) for funding and Crumptons, one of the region's big peanut growing companies. They are now putting together their business plan and will soon lodge an application with the local council. Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington, the region's local MP, has also asked the state government to help the Kingaroy community group in putting the idea together.

On Thursday, Ms Frecklington received some unexpected cheeky support from Queensland Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones. “Bigger is better and the Big Peanut for Kingaroy will be a great icon for that community,” Ms Jones said. “Like everyone who visits Kingaroy, the first stop you make is to the peanut van and I think having a big peanut to put Kingaroy on the map is a great win for tourism and the Kingaroy community.” Ms Jones said she did not think the Big Peanut would see tourists bypass Brisbane and travel to Kingaroy. “I’m pretty confident that when Queen's Wharf is built they will come here first and then maybe go up the road we are building (the Bruce Highway) to the Big Peanut.”

Tourism Minister Kate Jones reckons the Big Peanut for Kingaroy is a great idea. Credit:Michelle Smith South Burnett mayor Keith Campbell told his local paper said he would the town’s council supported the move for Big Peanut. South Burnett mayor Keith Campbell said he supported the Big Peanut proposal. "If a committee was to take ownership, and develop it as a town attraction, council would be willing to listen to a proposal,” Cr Campbell said. "There would obviously be planning and approval involved,” he said.

"We'd encourage the project to go through a fully developed business case and that there is a plan of how it will be used when it's constructed." Cr Campbell said Kingaroy was most famous for its peanuts and anything to continue to promote the brand was welcome. Federal MP David Littleproud (Maranoa) also told the South Burnett Times on January 11, 2018, that he backed the idea. "A 'Big Things in Queensland' bucket list should be the foundation for any road trip in our great state and I think a Big Peanut in Kingaroy would not only make a great selfie addition for tourists but also help to grow the South Burnett's economy and local jobs as a result,” Mr Littleproud said. Now, how about a Big Bilby for Charleville?

Other big things in Australia Coffs Harbour, New South Wales - Big Banana The Sunshine Coast – Big Pineapple Tamworth, New South Wales – Big Golden Guitar Ballina, New South Wales – Big Prawn

Kingston, South Australia – Big Lobster Glenrowan, Victoria - Big Ned Kelly Goulburn, New South Wales – Big Merino The Big Banana at Coffs Harbour. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Kingaroy’s place in Queensland culture also has a lot to do with the lengthy contribution to Australian politics, both good and bad, of the Bjelke-Petersen couple, Sir Joh and Lady Flo Bjelke Petersen.

The former Queensland senator, Lady Flo, died in Kingaroy on December 20, 2017 aged 97. Sir Joh – Queensland’s most divisive premier - died in April 2005 aged 94, also in Kingaroy.