Melbourne Star

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The Melbourne Star (previously Southern Star) is a temporarily closed 120-metre-tall (390 ft) Ferris wheel in the suburb of Docklands in Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. Described by its operators as an "observation wheel" and claimed to be "the Southern Hemisphere's only giant observation wheel", it is 120 m (394 ft) tall and has seven spokes, reflecting the seven-pointed star of the Australian flag. It opened two years behind schedule in December 2008, but closed 40 days later due to structural defects. The wheel itself was scrapped and replaced, but the original support structure and passenger cabins were retained. It was originally thought that reconstruction might be completed in late 2010, but repeated delays meant it did not reopen until 23 December 2013. A ride (one complete rotation) takes 30 minutes and, according to the Star's website, provides uninterrupted 360-degree views of up to 40 kilometres (25 mi) "encompassing the Docklands precinct, Melbourne’s CBD, Port Phillip Bay and as far as Mount Macedon, Arthurs Seat and the Dandenong Ranges." The wheel closed on 6 September 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, it is planned to be reopened in 2026.