Skipping Girl Sign
Encyclopedia
Neon sign
Neon signs are made using electrified, luminous tube lights that contain rarefied neon or other gases. They are the most common use for neon lighting, which was first demonstrated in a modern form in December, 1910 by Georges Claude at the Paris Motor Show. While they are used worldwide, neon signs...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The sign is located on Victoria Street
Victoria Street, Melbourne
Victoria Street is one of the major thoroughfares of inner Melbourne. Running east to west, Victoria Street touches the Hoddle Grid at the intersection of La Trobe Street and Spring Street, opposite the Carlton Gardens. It runs from its terminus at the intersection of Munster Terrace in North...
within the inner Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
suburb of Abbotsford
Abbotsford, Victoria
Abbotsford is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra. At the 2006 Census, Abbotsford had a population of 4,327....
.
Construction
Construction consists of a painted metal structure outlined in neon tubing depicting a little girl skipping rope. At night the sign's outlines are illuminated, the skipping rope being displayed from four sequential positions to give the appearance of motion.1930s version
The sign was designed by artist Jim Minogue and build by Neon Electric Signs in 1936 (who would go on to build the Nylex ClockNylex Clock
The Nylex Clock is an iconic neon sign sitting atop malting storage silos in the suburb of Cremorne, Victoria, Australia. It is located adjacent to the northern bank of the Yarra River and the Monash Freeway and displays the time and temperature alternately. The text also alternates displaying the...
in 1961). The company rented the sign to Nycander & Co who in turn placed the sign on top of their Nycander factory at 627 Victoria Street in 1936. The sign advertising their "Skipping Girl" brand of vinegar was immediately popular, becoming a well loved landmark.
When the Nycander factory was demolished in 1968 the sign was removed. Neon Electric attempted to reaquire Little Audrey, but the demolition company Whelan the Wrecker claimed ownership and sold it to CE Haywwood Pty Ltd, a used car dealership.
1970s version
Following public outcry, a Mr John Benjamin of the nearby electroplating factory Crusader Plate worked with the local council to acquire and reinstate the sign on his own roof. Since the original had been sold, a smaller version was built and placed on the roof of the electroplating factory at 651 Victoria Street in 1970. The 1970 version was listed by the National Trust (Victoria) in 2000, and has also been listed on the Victorian Heritage RegisterVictorian Heritage Register
The Victorian Heritage Register lists places of cultural heritage significance to the State of Victoria, Australia. It has statutory weight under the Heritage Act 1995 which establishes Heritage Victoria as the permit authority...
.
The sign was illuminated until 2002 when the sign's owners decided to cease funding of the power and maintenance required for operation.
In May 2008, an appeal was launched for public donations to restore the sign by energy company AGL Energy
AGL Energy
AGL Energy is the largest Australian gas and electricity retailer, with over six million customers. It has large investments in the supply of gas and electricity, and has recently invested in sustainable energy businesses such as wind farms and a hydroelectric power station in Victoria’s High...
, the National Trust (Victoria), the Heritage Council of Victoria, the Melbourne Restoration Fund, the group 'Friends of Audrey', and representatives of the sign's owners Spring & Parks Pty Ltd. Following the appeal, in March 2009 funds for a full restoration were successfully raised.
Little Audrey was taken down for repairs on March the 23rd 2009. After restoration works were completed by Delta Neon, the sign was placed back on its perch on June the 10th of the same year. Power is currently being paid for by AGL Energy
AGL Energy
AGL Energy is the largest Australian gas and electricity retailer, with over six million customers. It has large investments in the supply of gas and electricity, and has recently invested in sustainable energy businesses such as wind farms and a hydroelectric power station in Victoria’s High...
using their 100% GreenPower energy plan until 2014.
Cultural influences
Melbourne indie pop group Skipping Girl VinegarSkipping Girl Vinegar
Skipping Girl Vinegar are a Melbourne-based indie rock band. The band comprise of siblings Mark and Sare Lang, their respective childhood friends Chris Helm and Amanthi Lynch and are named after the Audrey the Skipping Girl Vinegar sign, located in Abbotsford, Victoria.-2004 - 2007 One...
named themselves after the sign, stating "We love her, she's part of Melbourne, and an authentic old world pop icon."
She is also referenced by another Melbourne band, My Friend the Chocolate Cake
My Friend The Chocolate Cake
My Friend The Chocolate Cake is an Australian musical group based in Melbourne. They have recorded seven albums since being founded in 1989 by David Bridie and Helen Mountfort, members of Not Drowning, Waving...
, in their song "It's All in the Way".
See also
- Borsari's CornerBorsari's Corner, MelbourneBorsari's Corner is at the intersection of Lygon Street and Grattan Street, in Carlton, Victoria, Australia. The corner is named after Nino Borsari, a member of the Gold medal winning Italian pursuit cycling team at the 1932 Olympics, who was competing in Australia when World War II broke out....
in Carlton, VictoriaCarlton, VictoriaCarlton is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne... - Dingo Flour signDingo Flour signThe Dingo Flour Sign is a well-known landmark of a stylised silhouetted dingo in red on the side of an historic and heritage-listed working flour mill in North Fremantle, Perth, Western Australia....
in North Fremantle, Western AustraliaNorth Fremantle, Western AustraliaNorth Fremantle is a small suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Fremantle. Its postcode is 6159.The suburb is situated on the Swan River, north of the Port of Fremantle... - Nylex ClockNylex ClockThe Nylex Clock is an iconic neon sign sitting atop malting storage silos in the suburb of Cremorne, Victoria, Australia. It is located adjacent to the northern bank of the Yarra River and the Monash Freeway and displays the time and temperature alternately. The text also alternates displaying the...
in Cremorne, VictoriaCremorne, VictoriaCremorne is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra... - Pelaco SignPelaco SignThe Pelaco Sign is a heritage-listed neon sign located in the inner Melbourne suburb of Richmond. It was erected in 1939 as an advertisement for local shirt manufacturer Pelaco....
in Richmond, VictoriaRichmond, VictoriaRichmond is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra...