Thomas Dambo's Giants of Mandurah exhibition has proved a huge success, with visitors spending a whopping $64 million in the Peel region in its first year.
More than 86,000 people from outside of the Peel region have travelled to the Mandurah area to see the Australian-exclusive installations.
Those visitors have spent nearly 350,000 nights in local accommodation delivering huge benefits for local tourism and hospitality businesses.
With the sculpture trail typically taking more than a day to discover, visitors have opted to stay longer to enjoy the highlights of the Peel region alongside the exhibition, staying an average of four nights.
Designed by world-renowned Danish artist Thomas Dambo, the five whimsical creatures sprung up in secret locations across Mandurah and the greater Peel region in November 2022, along with a sixth Giant located in Subiaco.
Visitors have been invited to discover them via an interactive trail and appreciate the wonder of the intricate sculptures, crafted entirely from recycled wooden materials.
Signage at each location and an accompanying Travellers’ Companion shares stories from the Traditional Custodians of Peel, the Bindjareb People of the Noongar Nation, allowing visitors to discover more about the cultural significance of the region.
“This $64 million in visitor spend is a fantastic result for our Peel region. Securing Australian exclusive content is a key pillar of the WA Government’s events strategy and is a proven way to attract out-of-state visitors," Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti said.
“Giants of Mandurah has delivered a valuable boost to local accommodation, hospitality and tourism industries and will continue to delight visitors as the installation continues for the foreseeable future."
The project was produced and managed by Western Australian arts and culture organisation FORM - Building a State of Creativity and delivered in collaboration with the City of Mandurah.
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