Matilda is back in Moreton Bay

‘Matilda’ has returned to Moreton Bay and is living at one of the region’s most popular play areas!

The nine-metre tall kangaroo is a towering addition to The Mill playground at the entrance to Moreton Bay Central, just off Gympie Rd in Petrie.

It is a strikingly smaller version of the famous Matilda mascot, which made such an impact at the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games.

Moreton Bay City Council is giving little away about the huge arrival, teasing on social media: “Who could it be?” and “Watch this space …”

However, a Council spokesperson confirmed it is a miniature version of the iconic Commonwealth Games mascot.

And “has arrived in City of Moreton Bay, after being kindly donated by its original owners, who were based in Moreton Bay”.

The original 1982 Matilda was 13 metres tall, weighed six tonnes and built on top of a forklift truck. It had moving ears, eyes that winked and a pouch which was a door.

After the Brisbane Games it went to Wet’n’Wild and in 2008 to a Matilda petrol station on the Gold Coast, but was deemed to have breached planning regulations.

The huge ‘roo was reportedly then seen stored at the Matilda fuel station (now demolished), opposite Pine Rivers Park at Strathpine.

She finally went to a Matilda petrol station on the Bruce Highway near Gympie and is now 5kms south, welcoming visitors at Traveston Service Centre.