The council received $318,000 in a state government grant and consulted craftsmen from International Conservation Services to complete the job last December.

However, the redesign was quickly met with outcry from locals who argued the new colour scheme was in conflict with the design of the original rainbow trout replica.

One of the pioneers of the Australian big-thing phenomena, the 10-metre-tall Big Trout was constructed by Hungarian artist Andrew Lomnici in 1973, with concept designs by Leigh Stewart.

Mr Lomnici's daughter Helen Miller said she was grateful when the Snowy Monaro Regional Council sought to restore the aging Big Trout last year.

"I am very proud of what he [my father] was able to build," she said.

"I want it to be there for as long as possible.

"But when I looked at it I said 'it's wrong'."

Ms Miller said the Big Trout was repainted 12 years ago, but she anticipated the 50-year anniversary refurbishment was going to attempt to return the sculpture to her father's original style. 

As an Adaminaby resident of more than 80 years, Neville Locker agreed, and said the Big Trout's paint job had become the talk of the town.

"It wouldn't matter if you were at the pub or club or wherever you were," he said.

"It was a pretty common thing for people to agree with what I felt — which was that the colour was a little bit sad."

A big-scale inaccuracy:

Former Adaminaby fishing guide and tackle shop owner Colin Sinclair said he holds the big fish "close to the heart".

Mr Sinclair said the Big Trout had put the alpine town of Adaminaby on the map.

"As soon as you say Adaminaby people say 'The Big Trout!'," he said.

"That is what the Big Trout was actually done for — to lift tourism."

While the original colour more accurately embodied the rainbow trout, Mr Sinclair said the current version is a far cry from that.

"They're normally a lighter green colour than what was painted … and the belly's normally that beautiful pearly white," he said.

"The slash of crimson that goes down the side of the fish needs to sort of feather in, so it's light pink and then into a darker pinky red colour."

Hearing the community:

The Snowy Monaro Regional Council announced this week that the paint work on the town's icon will be redone.

Mayor Chris Hanna said community concerns had been heard.

"The Big Trout's future as a famous and beloved landmark is something we are committing to get right," he said.

"We want the new finish to be something our residents can be proud of."

A council spokesperson said funding remained from the original grant money to cover the fresh lick of paint.

The council plans to present the designs to the community this month, with hopes to have the sculpture repainted before winter.

Former fishing guide Mr Sinclair said he hoped the new design could reflect the variants of rainbow trout that live in Eucumbene Lake in the Snowy Mountains.

"Hopefully things will go in the right direction, but I dare say it will be scrutinised quite solidly," he said.

"It means a lot to me and I'm sure it means a lot to the whole area."

Original Story By | Isla Evans