Revamped prawn set to lure selfie snappers

Exmouth’s famous big prawn statue has come out of isolation with a makeover just in time for an influx of visitors.

The 7m sculpture weighs in at 2000kg and was refurbished during the cyclone season at Exmouth Smash Repairs after it had faded.

Commissioned by MG Kailis, the upgrades included sanding, a fresh coat of paint, fibreglass restorations and chip repairs costing about $3500, with Georgia Raymond-Vine completing the makeover.

MG Kailis community engagement officer Trace Mills said the big prawn was a much-loved town icon.

“The makeover has become a bit of a community project, it’s really important to everyone in Exmouth,” she said.

“The big prawn’s paint was quite faded and in need of the overhaul to welcome tourists back to Exmouth following the COVID-19 restrictions.

“Most tourists take a photo with it at some point in their visit. We might invite them to share their photos. The sculpture usually puts a smile on people’s faces.”

The sculpture depicts a western king prawn and was constructed in 2005 by local Exmouth artist Brian Paskins to pay tribute to the thriving wild prawn fishery in the Exmouth Gulf, and to welcome visitors.

Parkins used fibreglass laid over a steel core to shape the sculpture, which had an original build cost of about $30,000.

In 2013, the Kailis family donated the prawn to the Town of Exmouth, and it has been a local landmark and selfie drawcard for tourists visiting the town ever since.