Old landmarks Melbourne: Forest Hill rocket, Wobbies World

From the Forest Hill Chase rocket to Wobbies World, these long-lost attractions bring back fond memories for many.

Wobbie’s World closed in 1998.

If you remember eating hot chips at Holly’s, playing on the Forest Hill Chase rocket or going to the drive-in cinema in Burwood, these photos of long lost icons in the east will be a stroll down memory lane.

FOREST HILL CHASE ROCKET

The rocket at Forest Hill shopping centre. Picture: Lost Melbourne Facebook page

Although the rocket lives on at Syndal South Primary School, many have fond memories of climbing the play equipment when it was based at Forest Hill Chase Shopping Centre.

On the Whitehorse Leader Facebook page, readers reminisced about their children climbing to the top and refusing to get down.

WOBBIES WORLD

The old helicopter at Wobbies World.

The former Wobbies World amusement park in Nunawading, which closed in the late 1990s, is now the site of the Forest Hill police station.

“At Wobbies World there’s heaps to do – bring your mum and a friend, too,” a 1991 ad enthused.

Rides included the famous helicopter, as well as trams, fire engines and slides.

CAMEL CORNER

Camel Corner sadly no longer operates in Knox.

The gate swung shut on a Knox icon in 2004 as Wantirna’s Camel Corner Pony Hire closed for the last time, after more than 30 years of operation.

Knox Leader reported at the time the property between the Burwood and Mountain highways was in the path of the future EastLink.

“My children’s fondest memories are riding the ponies and seeing the camel at Camel Corner,” Julie wrote on the Knox Leader Facebook page.

DRIVE-IN CINEMAS

The novel idea of driving to the cinema and staying in your car came to Melbourne in 1954 at the Burwood drive-in theatre. Picture: Moments in Time/HWT

Burwood, Wantirna and Rowville were just some of the Melbourne suburbs that used to be home to drive-in cinemas.

The Burwood Drive-In Theatre offered unique features and services to its patrons. It was capable of holding 650 cars in its natural 4ha bowl. A buffet sold snacks, while attendants served customers in their cars.

RADIO STATION AT CHADDY

The 3UZ radio base. Picture: State Library Victoria

Many shoppers have fond memories of the 3UZ radio station and Downeyflake Doughnut stand at Chadstone Shopping Centre.

Murrumbeena couple Kaye and Graeme Andrew, Chadstone 60 Year Ambassadors, met at the State Bank of Australia at Chadstone in 1968 as junior tellers.

Mrs Andrew said being around the station and doughnut stand as a teenager was “fabulous”.

“In your lunchtime to go out and sit on the grassed area, and you could either sit on grass or on chairs and listen to the latest from 3UZ and the DJ was sitting in this glass booth, he was a one-man band.”

WAVERLEY PARK

The opening match at VFL Park in 1970, when Fitzroy took on Geelong.

Thousands of fans used to trek to VFL/Waverley Park in Mulgrave to watch the footy, but two decades on, the site has now been transformed into a housing estate, with the final match played in 1999.

But there’s no shortage of memorable moments to look back on, including the famous night the lights went out.

HOLLY’S CAFE

Staff at Holly's Cafe.

Holly’s Cafe at Kmart is just one eatery missed by diners in the east, with Smorgy’s, The Swagman and Billabong Family Bistros among Melbourne’s gone — but not forgotten — restaurants.