Jindabyne has officially joined the ranks of hosting a BIG THING after the community raised $25,000 to buy The Big Chairlift sculpture by local artist Darragh Walsh.

When The Big Chairlift was entered in the 2025 Lake Light Sculpture at Easter, it raised quite the stir in town with photos filling people’s social media feed. This prompted the Jindabyne Chamber of Commerce to start a fundraiser page to keep the sculpture in Jindabyne.

At the Lake Light Sculpture awards on Good Friday the plan gathered momentum and by Easter Sunday morning, after only 48 hours, the funds were raised thanks to overwhelming community support.

More than 175 individuals, businesses, and organisations came together to contribute, reflecting the deep pride and affection the community holds for this striking piece of public art said the Jindabyne Chamber of Commerce.

Among the major supporters were Snowy Monaro Regional Council Mayor, Chris Hanna, who personally donated $5,000, and Shaun Turner from Doppelmayr Australia, whose $5,000 contribution early Sunday morning helped seal the deal and push the campaign over the line.

Local artist Darragh Walsh has been a constant contributor at Lake Light Sculpture having previously won awards for his creations. But The Big Chairlift has now elevated him to a new status among the community.

“To be honest, to have something as a permanent fixture in a public place is ultimately what I’ve always dreamed of doing since I started doing sculptures. But to do this one is I think extra special,” said Darragh.

“I just like the shape of the double chair, a lot of the older ones had the timber on them, so it was important it looked like an old one.”

“I have definitely ridden the old double chair a few times. I’ve got some funny stories of a friend jamming the safety bar in front of me and getting stuck around the bull wheel when I was very young.”

Darragh said he had a friend in the resort who gave him exact dimensions of the old double chairs. He scaled it up roughly 400%, took into consideration how he was going to move it and that was how the size and the design evolved. Time wise to construct the chair was less than a full week of welding pipe and fitting the hardwood sleeper timber.

“It’s engineered like a normal deck, so it can definitely hold the weight of plenty of people.”

“I wanted something that was solid and would last a long time, but also the old chairs had the timber. That was what I wanted to reflect was the old double chairs that are kind of becoming extinct these days.”

Visitors during the Easter weekend were excited that Jindabyne could have a big chair, and now they do.

“That was the idea about it,” said Darragh on Friday before the fundraiser started. “Adaminaby has the big trout, the big pineapple, the big merino, why not a big chairlift. I couldn’t find one anywhere else in the world.”

With the planned Lake Jindabyne foreshore upgrade and beautification in the pipeline, and the chair expected to be in a prominent position in Banjo Paterson Park and visible as visitors drive into Jindabyne, it will certainly add as an additional attraction for Jindabyne.

"Not only is the big chairlift a magnificent sculpture, it’s a fitting symbol of our town’s identity, our shared memories, and our alpine spirit," said Olivier Kapetanakos, President of the Jindabyne Chamber of Commerce.

"The response has been nothing short of phenomenal, and we’re so proud to help keep it here in Jindabyne for locals and visitors to enjoy for years to come.”

Mayor Chris Hannah said, “It’s incredible.”

“I’m stoked, and I know all of the community is stoked. We have to thank Darragh for stepping up and building such an amazing piece of artwork, and the Like Light Sculpture for putting this amazing event back on this year.”

“I know the community really wanted this, and it’s going to stay for all our visitors and local people to take photos. Thank you for everyone involved.”

There are many Big Things scattered around Australia, and the Snowy Mountains already have the Big Trout at Adaminaby. Now when people are the mountains, they will also have The Big Chairlift.