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ABC News
ABC News
National
By Kelly Butterworth

Giant Jurassic Park gates waiting to be snapped up in outback Queensland

Alana Rackham's fifth birthday party was a roaring success thanks to these gates.

Homewares, bicycles and furniture are sold every day on social media, but one bizarre listing in outback Queensland has drawn the attention of film buffs.

A giant pair of gates, modelled on the imposing structure welcoming visitors to Jurassic Park, are on the market in the mining town of Mount Isa.

Predictably, the post went locally viral, and the woman fielding the many queries was Destiny Rackman.

Ms Rackman, her father and his employees built the gates for her daughter Alana's fifth birthday party last year.

"[My daughter] has always loved dinosaurs and when she was old enough to watch Jurassic Park it became her favourite movie," Ms Rackman said.

"So of course it was a no-brainer for us, my family are very creative and we just knew we had to do it."

The Rackmans do not take birthdays lightly.

Sale causes bewilderment

Ms Rackman said she had taken many questions about the gates, a large portion from people interested in how she came to own them.

When it came to price, Ms Rackman said she was open to offers, because there was no easy way to value them.

"We would rather give them away to someone who'll love them than throw them in the bin," she laughed.

"We'll be pleased if we can get any money for them — that's a bonus."

Ms Rackman said she had no idea how much they cost to build, but it took about four weekends and involved forklifts to move materials and scaffolding to reach the top.

"My dad is the craftsman, he's very handy with the tools, and I'm an event coordinator," she said.

"When it comes to special occasions we do team together and make something incredible."

Who would buy them?

Coincidentally, a couple of prospective buyers turned up while the ABC was speaking with Ms Rackman.

While Jason and Alison O'Donnell did not end up going home with the gates, they had made big plans for the feature before they arrived.

Mr O'Donnell is a bit of a Jurassic Park fan, and he and his wife have a pool at their house with a waterfall and rock features.

Mrs O'Donnell thought the gates could sit above the pool.

It did not work out in the end, so the gates are still open to someone else's Jurassic Park fantasy.

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