The public can once again climb to the top of one of Australia’s biggest tourist attractions, as workers finished extensive renovations inside Queensland’s Big Pineapple.
Tourists have been barred from climbing the Sunshine Coast attraction for several years while it underwent both exterior and interior renovations.
Owner Peter Kendall said a rotting framework meant he was forced to close its doors.
“It was in very a bad state of disrepair because all these structural pipes were all rusted through,” Kendall said.
“We’d condemned it because you couldn’t walk in here cause it all was shaking so much.”
Now the former Sunshine Plantation has been restored and repaired, with a few modern twists – including air conditioning.
“It’s taken six months and a lot of money [but] I’m delighted to say it’s probably surpassed our levels of expectations,” Kendall said.
“It’s designed for you to come in and pretty much be as it was in the 70s and 80s.”
But Kendall has even grander plans for the giant tropical fruit, which was one of the first examples of agritourism in Australia when it was built in 1971.
Pineapple fields will be planted in the coming months by Piñata Farms, while a distillery, and function centre are also on the cards.
“It’s not my style to half do things, so when we bring them back, they’re gonna be back exactly how they used to be,” Kendall said.
Kendall has even promised the sweet return of the original parfait and dessert menu in the coming years.
“I’d love to say we could have something open there by next Christmas,” Kendall said.
“We’ll certainly try, but if it’s not next Christmas, it’ll be, you know, certainly midway through the following year.”
