Robertson's Big Potato 'safe for the time being' amid court appeal

The sculpture has become a popular attraction for those passing through the Southern Highlands. (Supplied: TripAdvisor)

The Big Potato has been attracting puzzled stares in the main street of Robertson for more than 50 years.

A proposal to relocate the sculpture and build a larger supermarket was refused by Wingecarribee Shire Council's planning panel.

The development application will now progress through the NSW Land and Environment Court.

The fate of Australia's infamous Big Potato now rests in the hands of a New South Wales court.

Plans to relocate the 10-metre spud as part of a supermarket redevelopment were refused by Wingecarribee Shire Council's planning panel (WLPP) this week.

The usually brown sculpture has attracted curious looks in the main street of Robertson, in the NSW Southern Highlands, for nearly 50-years, winning the dubious honour of "Australia's Sh*ttest Big Thing".

Locals have developed a love-hate relationship with the structure, but many found a renewed fondness when it was repainted to become a "Pig Potato", celebrating 30 years since the release of the film Babe, which was filmed in the area.

"Ever since it was renovated a year-and-a-half ago to represent Babe, it's kind of given it a revival," Robertson Business Chamber president Jennifer Macquarie said.

"It's created more local pride and attracted more people to come and take selfies, and so people love it even more than they did before."

The proponent has offered to relocate the Big Potato, or Pig Potato, to make way for a supermarket development. (Supplied: Samuel Hall)

The super-sized spud sits on land owned by Ken McCourt, beside a small supermarket.

He wants to move it to another location to make way for a larger supermarket with four specialty shops, parking and a loading dock.

A development application (DA) for the $3 million project was lodged with Wingecarribee Shire Council in December 2025.

It did not specify where the Big Potato would be replanted, but promised to improve shopping facilities for residents.

The western portion of the Hoddle Street is not developed, but has been home to Robertson's Big Potato for nearly 50 years. (Supplied: Scott Lee)

"The site gives the impression of a public park, but it has always been privately owned land, and the [Big] Potato has been there for some time. So the development would extend onto that vacant land," DA author Scott Lee said.

But the council's planning panel argued on Monday the proposal was not suitable for the 3,450-square-metre Hoddle Street site due to traffic, parking, noise, village character and