Melbourne Star
| Melbourne Star | |
|---|---|
 Southern Star prior to its 2009 closure | |
 | |
| Former names | Southern Star |
| General information | |
| Status | Closed since 30 January 2009 for major repairs |
| Type | Ferris wheel |
| Location | Melbourne Docklands |
| Construction started | 30 June 2006[1] |
| Completed | 20 December 2008 |
| Cost | A$100 million (estimate) |
| Owner | Sanoyas Rides Corporation[3] |
| Height | 120 m (394 ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Sanoyas Hishino Meisho |
| Developer | Alfasi Group |
| Main contractor | Hansen Yuncken[2] |
The Melbourne Star,[4] known as the Southern Star until 27 April 2013, is a currently non-operational Ferris wheel in the Waterfront City precinct at Melbourne Docklands in Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. Described by its operators as "the Southern Hemisphere’s only giant observation wheel",[4] it is 120 m (394 ft) tall and has seven spokes, reflecting the seven-pointed star of the Australian flag.[5]
It opened two years behind schedule in December 2008, but then closed 40 days later due to structural defects, and was subsequently dismantled for major repairs. Reconstruction began in January 2011 and was originally scheduled to be completed by the end of that year, but this and several subsequent completion date estimates were missed. In January 2013, the wheel's then owner, ING, advised that it would not re-open until the second half of 2013 and that date was amended again in August 2013 and October 2013.[6][7][8]
On 11 October 2013, it was announced that Sanoyas Rides Corporation, the company currently rebuilding the wheel under warranty, had purchased the wheel from ING Real Estate Development for an undisclosed price. Sanoyas Rides Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Japanese ship and amusement park ride builder, Sanoyas Holdings Corporation.[3]
On 25 October 2013, Sanoyas Holdings Corporation president Takashi Ueda, announced that the company is aiming to open the attraction in ten weeks time. Advertisements for approximately 100 jobs began appearing on the Melbourne Star website and on the 'SEEK' recruiting website.[6]
Construction
The project, undertaken by ING Real Estate and managed by Hansen Yuncken, cost an estimated A$100 million to construct between 2006 and 2008, and was expected to attract 1.5 million visitors each year.
The outer ring of the wheel was completed on 1 March 2008. The passenger pods arrived onsite on 10 June 2008 for installation. By 20 October 2008, the pods were receiving their fit out.[9]
2008 opening and 2009 closure
The wheel first opened to the public on 20 December 2008, two years behind schedule.[10] Its most recently postponed opening ceremony, scheduled for 28 November 2008,[11] had been cancelled due to bad weather and delays in procuring parts.[12]
On 30 January 2009,[13] 40 days after opening,[14] the wheel was shut down indefinitely after structural defects, including buckling and cracks, were detected. The operators initially blamed the 2009 Southeastern Australia heat wave for causing the damage. It was not known when the wheel would reopen.[13][15]
Upon further investigation, engineers working on the wheel discovered the cracks were not caused by the heatwave but rather a problem in the original design. Fourteen cracks were found in the steel.[16]
An undated press release on the operator's official website stated: "The Southern Star Observation Wheel was temporarily closed in January 2009. As a result of extensive design and technical reviews a conclusion was reached to build a new wheel."[17][18]
Reconstruction
Reconstruction work began in January 2011 with the delivery to Docklands of the first of the seven replacement spokes, manufactured by BMC, from the Latrobe Valley.[19] In July 2011 the wheel was expected to be turning again by the end of the year.[20] In October 2011 reconstruction was continuing, but no completion date had yet been confirmed.[21]
On 28 November 2011 reconstruction work was still in progress when the wheel broke free from its restraints and began turning in strong winds, resulting in minor injuries for one of the workers as they fled the site. The next day, Southern Star Management issued a statement saying that bracing used to erect the wheel had failed, and that no final completion date for the wheel had yet been confirmed.[22][23]
In December 2011 it was reported that the wheel was not expected to reopen before Easter 2012.[24]
In January 2012 it was reported that an international team of experts including Arup (who were involved in both the London Eye and the Singapore Flyer projects) and Hyder Consulting had been engaged in the redesign, and that reconstruction was now expected to be completed some time in 2012.[25][26]
In June 2012 it was reported that the then owner ING Real Estate had repeatedly refused to announce an estimated completion date, but that an estimated date might be given at a briefing of state government officials planned for July.[14]
In August 2012 it was reported that the wheel could reopen in January 2013, but only if there was "no wind, no rain for the next four months" - an unlikely scenario for Melbourne, "a city renowned for extremely windy springs and rain that washes out the first cricket matches". According to spokesman Ken Davis, 70 per cent of available construction time was being lost each week as cranes and lifts on the site could not operate in bad weather. He also stated that "due to the complexity of the construction process, we are not in a position to make any announcements regarding a 2013 opening date".[27] However, later that same month, after the final section of the rim was installed, he stated "we're hoping it will be completed by the middle of next year".[28]
In January 2013, the wheel's then owner, ING, advised that it will not re-open until the second half of 2013[7] and on 25 August 2013, the date was revised yet again, until March 2014.[8]
On 28 August 2013, the first of the wheel's 21 cabins was reinstalled. This takes up to three-quarters of a day each, depending on weather conditions. These are the original cabins, which have been in storage since the wheel shut down. The only substantial modification is an upgrade of each cabin's audio systems.[29]
Specifications
Passenger capsules
The 21 5.7 m (19 ft) long and 3.7 m (12 ft) high air-conditioned enclosed capsules have floor to ceiling glass walls and can each accommodate up to 20 passengers. They were designed by Sanoyas Hishino Meisho of Osaka[30] and imported from Japan, and weigh 13 tonnes each.[29]
They provided extensive views of the city and Port Phillip bay and as far as Geelong.[citation needed]
Lighting
The original LED lighting, comprising over 3500 metres of custom LED tubes and control systems, was manufactured in Korea by LGCNS, a division of LG Electronics, and designed and sold by Imagine That Design and Production of Las Vegas, Nevada, US.[citation needed]
References
- ^ "Work to spin Ferris wheel", Herald Sun, 30 May 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
- ^ "The Southern Star". The Southern Star. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
- ^ a b "Japanese breathe new life into Docklands ferris wheel project ", Herald Sun, 11 October 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
- ^ a b "Melbourne Star". Melbourne Star. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
- ^ Docklands Science - March 2013
- ^ a b "Docklands' trouble-plagued observation wheel set to open in ten weeks ", Herald Sun, 25 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
- ^ a b Wheel's reopening at least six months away | The Age 22 January 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013
- ^ a b Docklands traders in spin over 1800-day wait for Melbourne Star wheel fix | Herald Sun 25 August 2013 | Retrieved 26 August 2013
- ^ Royall, Ian (20 October 2008). "Man seeks to propose to girlfriend in new Southern Star wheel". Herald Sun. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Opening Date For Melbourne’s Southern Star Wheel (Mark 2) Imminent
- ^ Rennie, Reko (27 October 2008). "Melbourne's big wheel to open next month". The Age. Retrieved 27 October 2008.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Rennie, Reko (19 December 2008). "After the spin, Melbourne's wheel ready to turn". The Age. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b Cooper, Mex (2 February 2009). "Heat Closes Melbourne's Southern Star". The Age. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
- ^ a b $100m Southern Star Observation Wheel a broken wreck
- ^ "Wheel Closure". The Southern Star. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
- ^ "Design fault to keep wheel shut". The Age. 2 March 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
- ^ Southern Star Observation Wheel - Press Release
- ^ Southern Star Observation Wheel - Media Centre
- ^ Observation wheel at a turning point
- ^ Docklands attraction making wheel progress
- ^ Anger over Docklands' hotel plan
- ^ Union blames Government for Southern Star Observation Wheel accident
- ^ "More trouble for Docklands observation wheel". ABC Online. 29 November 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
- ^ Wheel's safety in doubt: union
- ^ Melbourne’s big wheel of misfortune
- ^ Melbourne’s Southern Star Wheel To Get ‘World First LED Lighting System’
- ^ Wheel's misfortune continues, and traders are not happy
- ^ Circle complete as Southern Star reinvents the wheel
- ^ a b Long-delayed milestone for Docklands wheel as first cabin attached | The Age 28 August 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013
- ^ "The Southern Star Observation Wheel". The Southern Star. 28 April 2008. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
External links
