A brand new ‘star within a star’ design and an all new steel wheel will emerge at Waterfront City.

With onsite foundation works and reconditioning of all cabins already completed, installation of the inner spokes will be followed by the outer spokes and rim before positioning of the 21 viewing cabins. The columns, hub and wheel building were retained.

The replacement and re-build of the wheel is being undertaken under warranty by Sanoyas Hishino Meisho Corporation in consultation with international engineers including Arup, Aurecon, Hyder Consulting, Pitt & Sherry, Robert Bird & Associates and Brown & Tomkinson.

Arup, a renowned worldwide structural engineering firm, have extensive experience in the design of the only two other giant observation wheels in operation in the world, the London Eye and the Singapore Flyer. Representatives from their London office are part of the Melbourne based team working on this project.

The Southern Star will be Australia’s first and only giant observation wheel and the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. One of the most exciting new tourism attractions in Melbourne, the Southern Star Observation Wheel will be a stunning addition to the landscape that boast some of the most spectacular views overlooking Melbourne’s CBD, Victoria Harbour and beyond.

*Image far right: Artist impression of the new wheel.

SOUTHERN STAR FACTS

THE NEW WHEEL

• The inner spokes are fabricated in Melbourne and the outer spokes in Morwell
• The rim is fabricated in Tasmania
• Will feature a spectacular LED light show

THE CABINS

• 21 air conditioned fully enclosed cabins that hold up to 20 people each
• Each cabin measures 3.7 metres in length and 4 metres in width
• Cabins will be fully powered ensuring a flat and stable platform
• Cabins will be available to hire for private functions, including birthdays, anniversaries, launches or weddings

WHEEL NUMBERS

• 1,736 tonnes of steel
• 7.5 kilometres of steel piping
• 12,500 square metres of paint
• Each asymmetric support column weighs 73 tonnes
• The longest column is over 70 metres in length and over 2.5 metres wide
• The inner hub and bearing weigh 77 tonnes
• The biggest crane used was a 600 tonne crane