You say you want a revolution? Melbourne Star to turn again
Melbourne’s biggest “white elephant” will spin again, with a rescue team breathing new life into the Docklands landmark more than 1430 days after it closed.
The Melbourne Star Observation Wheel is finally set to turn again, with a rescue team bringing back the Docklands landmark shut down at the height of the city’s Covid crisis.
A group spearheaded by a Melbourne husband and wife, a US company and the Swiss based firm that bought the wheel before it went into liquidation will give the city’s biggest “white elephant” a new lease of life.
More than 1430 days since it was closed the Herald Sun can reveal an $11m takeover of the troubled wheel will be announced on Monday, with plans to modernise and enhance the experience.
MB Star Properties Pty Ltd — owner of the 120m high structure that went bust in 2021 —will be restructured to bring the wheel back to life next year.
Work has already started getting the wheel spinning again, with Skyline Attractions — the company behind a smaller wheel near the Melbourne Convention Centre — driving the comeback.
Skyline Attractions business manager Jane Jones said it was “a really exciting project.
“It’s an iconic structure in the Melbourne skyline that has been closed for four years and everyone wants to see it reopen, wants to see those lights shine again,’’ she said.
“I think Melbourne loves the structure itself and we’re really, really excited to be part of the team to turn it back on.”
Skyline director Jay Jones said: “it is an impressive, state of the art piece of equipment that can be great.
“It just upsets me every time I drive past and it is turned off.’’
The Melbourne business has teamed with Ray Cammack Shows, the US company behind wheels overlooking Manhattan, Miami, Coachella and the Superbowl, and RoBu Group, which bought the wheel before it went bust.
The rescue deal will see creditors paid and safety and restorative work completed before the wheel opens “as early as possible”.
The team wants to “change the guest experience”, with pre-footy, drink packages, family orientated cars and historic Melbourne tours.
“We want to make it a new, unique experience that everyone in Melbourne can be proud of,” he said.
“There’s a lot to do.’’.
Mr Jones expected about 250,000 visitors to ride the wheel in its first year, breathing new life into Docklands and continuing Melbourne’s comeback story.
“Melbourne was such a hard lockdown and we all went through a tough time.” he said.
“The businesses are trying to rebuild and...this really is a positive step forward.
“This is a beacon to that.’’
Lord Mayor Nick Reece said: “This is a huge moment for Melbourne and a vote of confidence in the future of Docklands.’’
The wheel opened as the “Southern Star” in 2008 but closed after just 40 days when cracks were discovered in its steel structure.
It was shut down in September 2021 when MB Star Properties was placed into liquidation with more than $3.9m of debt.
Despite being subject to sale bids and speculation it could be moved elsewhere in Melbourne, interstate, overseas or even sold for scrap, it has stood dormant since — until now.
Secret tests got the wheel turning last week but Mr Jones said: “There’s definitely a lot to do.
“It’s been sat there for years and it’s a big piece of equipment but it is a really, really well made piece of equipment.’’
He hoped its reincarnation would stop “so much negativity’’.
“Let’s turn it on for good and have something we can be proud of.’’
Pressed on exactly when it would re-open he said: “We don’t want to overpromise anything, and we definitely don’t want to under deliver anything.
“We want to get it right and get it right for good because to Melbourne, it could just be another funny thing, I guess.
“But for us, if we’re going to put our life into making this work, we really want it to work.’’
Originally published as You say you want a revolution? Melbourne Star to turn again
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