Southern Star Observation Wheel
Encyclopedia
The Southern Star is a currently nonoperational Ferris wheel
in the Waterfront City precinct at Melbourne Docklands in Melbourne
, the state capital of Victoria
, Australia
. It is 120 m (394 ft) tall, the equivalent of a forty storey building. It opened in December 2008, but then closed the following month due to structural defects, and was subsequently dismantled for major repairs. Reconstruction began in January 2011.
, cost A$
100 million to construct between 2006 and 2008, and was expected to attract 1.5 million visitors each year.
World Tourist Attractions submitted a proposal to the Commonwealth Government for the acquisition of the land and assets on the site from ING Real Estate, however ING Real Estate were still the owners of the wheel in January 2011.
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. An opening date of 28 November 2008 was set only to be postponed due to delays in procuring parts and bad weather. The wheel opened on 20 December 2008.
In January 2009, approximately one month after its opening, the Southern Star observation 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.
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.
An undated press release on the operator's official website stated:
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. In July 2011 the wheel was expected to be turning again by the end of the year. In October 2011 reconstruction was continuing, but no completion date had yet been confirmed.
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.
by Alfasi Group, and the wheel structure was manufactured in the Greater Melbourne suburb of Dandenong
.
The 21 5.7 m (18.7 ft) long and 3.7 m (12.1 ft) high air-conditioned enclosed capsules were imported from Sanoyas Hishino Meisho
in Osaka, Japan. Each can accommodate up to 20 passengers, and provides extensive views of the city and Port Phillip
bay and as far as Geelong
.
Ferris wheel
A Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
in the Waterfront City precinct at Melbourne Docklands in 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...
, the state capital of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, 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...
. It is 120 m (394 ft) tall, the equivalent of a forty storey building. It opened in December 2008, but then closed the following month due to structural defects, and was subsequently dismantled for major repairs. Reconstruction began in January 2011.
History
The project, undertaken by ING Real Estate and managed by Hansen YunckenHansen Yuncken
Hansen Yuncken is a national Australian construction company, founded in 1918. The company claims to have completed over 4500 projects, and has managed the construction of several Australian landmark buildings including Myer Emporium in Melbourne, the new terminal at Adelaide Airport and the...
, cost A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
100 million to construct between 2006 and 2008, and was expected to attract 1.5 million visitors each year.
World Tourist Attractions submitted a proposal to the Commonwealth Government for the acquisition of the land and assets on the site from ING Real Estate, however ING Real Estate were still the owners of the wheel in January 2011.
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. An opening date of 28 November 2008 was set only to be postponed due to delays in procuring parts and bad weather. The wheel opened on 20 December 2008.
In January 2009, approximately one month after its opening, the Southern Star observation wheel was shut down indefinitely after structural defects, including buckling and cracks, were detected. The operators initially blamed the 2009 Southeastern Australia heat wave
2009 southeastern Australia heat wave
The early 2009 southeastern Australia heat wave was a heat wave that commenced in late January and led to record-breaking prolonged high temperatures in the region. The heat wave is considered one of the, if not the, most extreme in the region's history. During the heat wave, fifty separate...
for causing the damage. It was not known when the wheel would reopen.
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.
An undated press release on the operator's official website stated:
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. In July 2011 the wheel was expected to be turning again by the end of the year. In October 2011 reconstruction was continuing, but no completion date had yet been confirmed.
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.
Specifications
The structure consists of 1250 t (1,230.3 LT) of steel and 3.7 km (2.3 mi) of LED lighting. The supporting steel columns were manufactured in TasmaniaTasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
by Alfasi Group, and the wheel structure was manufactured in the Greater Melbourne suburb of Dandenong
Dandenong, Victoria
Dandenong is a suburb and major urban centre in metropolitan Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 30 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Situated on Dandenong Creek and mostly flat land at the foothills of Mount Dandenong, it is the main administrative centre for the City of...
.
The 21 5.7 m (18.7 ft) long and 3.7 m (12.1 ft) high air-conditioned enclosed capsules were imported from Sanoyas Hishino Meisho
Sanoyas Hishino Meisho
Sanoyas Hishino Meisho Corporation is a Japanese company that consists of four principal business groups and twelve affiliated companies. The business groups are: the Ship and Steel Structure Group, the Parking System & Engineering Group, the Construction Machines Group, and the Leisure Business...
in Osaka, Japan. Each can accommodate up to 20 passengers, and provides extensive views of the city and Port Phillip
Port Phillip
Port Phillip Port Phillip Port Phillip (also commonly referred to as Port Phillip Bay or (locally) just The Bay, is a large bay in southern Victoria, Australia; it is the location of Melbourne. Geographically, the bay covers and the shore stretches roughly . Although it is extremely shallow for...
bay and as far as Geelong
Geelong, Victoria
Geelong is a port city located on Corio Bay and the Barwon River, in the state of Victoria, Australia, south-west of the state capital; Melbourne. It is the second most populated city in Victoria and the fifth most populated non-capital city in Australia...
.