Once Melbourne's 'laughing stock', Star ferris wheel turns again

American rockers Creedence Clearwater Revival memorably belted out the lyric: "Big wheel, keep on turning".But the famed Proud Mary line does not always hold true in Melbourne, where the Melbourne Star has had more than a few false starts since its inaugural turn in 2008.The Docklands landmark was closed due to structural concerns 40 days later.Jay and Jane Jones say the tourist attraction is ready to welcome visitors once again. (ABC News: Ethan White)But this week the Melbourne Star rotated back into action after five years sitting stationary due to the COVID-era tourism downturn.Owner-operators Jane and Jay Jones believe 2026 will be a turning point for the tourist attraction in more ways than one."We're confident. We're wheel people — that's what we are," Mr Jones said."Tourism is growing. We're turning around since COVID."This is a big icon that the COVID past of Melbourne is gone, the ring of steel is gone."Mr Jones acknowledged the wheel's frequent closures had become the butt of many jokes.After its ill-fated opening in 2008 it was motionless for almost five years and at one point became a state election issue.Previously known as the Southern Star, Melbourne's observation wheel has been closed for operations several times since its 2008 debut. (Undertow Media, file photo: AAP)Eventually dismantled and rebuilt, it reopened to passengers in late 2013 and continued to spin for more than seven years, save for a brief breakdown that left some passengers stranded mid-rotation in 2018.The wheel stopped turning once more in 2021 as pandemic restrictions took effect and its owners went into liquidation.In 2024, the City of Melbourne even contemplated selling the 120-metre-high wheel for parts."Everyone in Melbourne sees the wheel when they go past," Mr Jones said."Instead of it being the laughing stock and that thing we're all ashamed of, now it shines brightly and it's cool to see."Docklands entertainment precinct chief executive Jonathan Codman said it could be argued that the area had been missing its centrepiece."For the last five years, effectively the first question I've always been asked is, 'When is the wheel going to reopen?'" he said.Jonathan Codman says hundreds of thousands of extra visitors will be drawn to the area. (ABC News: Ethan White)Now Mr Codman is confident of an additional 300,000 visitors each year."So that's going to be an advantage for the precinct," he said.Civic and business leaders have welcomed the reopening, but few were as excited as Melanie Olsen and her daughter Charli-Koko Vance.Ms Olsen, who has terminal cancer, and Charli-Koko, has a rare disease, turned the Melbourne Star's lights back on in July and returned for the reopening.Charli-Koko Vance and her mum Melanie Olsen at Melbourne Star. (ABC News: Iskhandar Razak)The wheel has special significance for the pair. They use to visit regularly before its 2021 closure then often observed it from Charli-Koko's window at the Royal Children's Hospital during lengthy stays."To cut the ribbon and push the button at the start for Charli-Koko, it's brought us so much joy," Ms Olsen said.