John Masanauskas: Let’s just enjoy the real stars of Melbourne

Melbourne has outstanding sights, from marvellous heritage buildings to “hidden” laneway culture. Do we really need a giant wheel to prove our worth?

Does Melbourne really need to retain a landmark like an observation wheel? Picture: Visit Victoria

Every so often, Melburnians engage in that old pursuit of “we need a new landmark for the city”.

You know, something sublime, on the level of Sydney’s Opera House or Paris’s Eiffel Tower.

For my money, it’s a sign of an inferiority complex. Why aren’t people satisfied with the city we have? Of course, Melbourne has always had landmarks, but apparently most of them haven’t been up to scratch.

Even before Covid hit, the Star was struggling to attract enough patrons. Picture: Brendan Francis

Take the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel – please take it, it’s for sale! The Docklands wheel is in liquidation after pandemic shutdowns killed tourism in Victoria for nearly two years.

Even before Covid hit, the Star was struggling to attract enough patrons, in large part due to its location.

Docklands may have seemed an ideal place, but the wheel was positioned well away from the waterfront, and the views from it were, let’s say, not that spectacular.

An audio narrative that accompanied the ride mentioned all sorts of inner Melbourne sights, but the trouble was you couldn’t see most of them.

Last week, top architecture firm Bates Smart suggested the Star be moved to a prime spot on the north bank of the Yarra River. It would sit in Batman Park, which would become part of a 7ha green space created once the elevated rail lines between Flinders Street and Southern Cross stations were “buried” underground.

Our city has outstanding sights which include the ‘hidden’ charm of the CBD laneway culture.

Bates Smart director Julian Anderson estimated the project would cost billions of dollars, but could be offset with a levy on the redevelopment of “unloved” buildings along Flinders St like the Banana Alley vaults.

It’s a bold and inspiring idea, but how realistic would it be plonking the wheel there? For a start, Melbourne Aquarium would need to be moved to somewhere like Central Pier in Docklands.

And the City of Melbourne already has detailed plans for the north bank of the Yarra under its Greenline linear park proposal.

City of Melbourne already has detailed plans for the north bank of the Yarra under its Greenline linear park proposal. Picture: City of Melbourne

Given the footprint needed to accommodate a structure like Melbourne Star, a more realistic location could be Birrarung Marr. That would certainly provide a major attraction within walking distance of the CBD.

But the question remains, does Melbourne really need to retain a landmark like an observation wheel?

Our city has outstanding sights ranging from marvellous heritage buildings to spectacular skyscrapers, as well as the “hidden” charm of the CBD laneway culture.

Let’s enjoy those.

John Masanauskas is Herald Sun city editor