Melbourne Star opens with luxury cabins after 5 years closed
The Melbourne Star observation wheel has reopened. New operators brought it back with fire safety upgrades, new lighting, and VIP cabins.
The Melbourne Star observation wheel is spinning again after nearly five years dark. The wheel closed in September 2021 during COVID.
The wheel now reopens under new operators, Skyline Attractions. Skyline Attractions brought the fire safety systems up to code.
They installed dramatic new lighting that turns the wheel into a light show. The wheel had a troubled past.
It had software glitches, loose bolts, and injuries. Once a pelican attacked it.
The new owners offer Star Class VIP cabins. The bars have gold trim and serve unlimited drinks.
Each spin lasts 30 minutes. Docklands itself remains a struggling suburb with empty stores and sinking roads.
But the wheel's return has drawn crowds back to the waterfront.
- Nearly 5 years
- Years dark
- September 2021
- Closure date
- Jay and Jane Jones, Skyline Attractions
- Operators
- 30 minutes
- Spin duration
Why it mattersThe observation wheel shut down for years and had safety issues. Now it works again. This gives Melbourne a tourist draw that actually functions. Foot traffic has returned to a struggling area.
AustraliaThe Star was a symbol of Docklands' decay. Its reopening is a test of whether the area can recover. For Melburnians, it offers a new way to see the city skyline from the wheel itself.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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