'Australian Farmer'

The “Australian Farmer” is an eye-catching sculpture that sits at the side of the Eyre Highway in the small town of Wudinna, South Australia. It was unveiled to the public in 2009 after a long design process by artist Marijan Bekic. The project took around 17 years to complete. Bekic was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina and moved to Australia in 1989. There he has built a reputation for his public sculptures which have attracted attention from afar. 

The statue is made from granite, stands at an impressive 26 feet (8 meters), and weighs 70 tons. It depicts a farmer from the early settlers of this region of rural Australia, with carvings of sheep and grain included in the sculpture. When viewed from a distance, the sheep create the feet of the farmer. 

The sculpture celebrates the spirit and early development of rural Australian farming communities and pays tribute to the modern challenges of those living in these remote areas.