Mother-daughter duo to reignite light at Melbourne's dormant Star

Mother-daughter duo to reignite light at Melbourne's dormant Star Tue 28 Jul 2026 at 9:05am In short: A mother with terminal cancer and her daughter, who has a rare disease, will turn the lights back on at the Melbourne Star later this week. The observation wheel in Docklands is slowly coming back to life after lying dormant for five years. Children's charity Very Special Kids has helped the mother-daughter duo's dream come true. Charli-Koko, 12, lives with a rare chromosome deletion disorder, and her mother has terminal cancer. But as they embrace and gaze up at Melbourne's giant but dormant Star, they see a future together. "Over here, look Kokes," Mel Olsen exclaims, pointing up at the 120-metre-tall observation wheel in Docklands. Charli-Koko looks up and points as well. Looking at the wheel is something the two would do often five years ago, when it was operational. The Star glowed brightly at night and could be seen across the city, including by patients at the Royal Children's Hospital. "The lights would bring so much joy to us," Ms Olsen said. "Being able to see it and talk about it. It brought me joy seeing her enjoy it. "She loved it, she really looked forward to it." When the business failed in 2021, the wheel stopped spinning. But families with loved ones at the hospital requested the lights still be turned on at night for children. Five years later, that dream is about to become a reality after the owners of Melbourne-based business Skyline Attractions, Jay and Jane Jones, took over the Star this year. "When we took over, we were told how the children in hospital could see the lights, and we've been thinking about that ever since," Mr Jones said. "And just the story of Charli-Koko and Mel, it breaks your heart. "It's hard to talk about without crying. It's a really difficult life and we don't deal with anything like that." Star to shine Charli-Koko's condition includes intellectual disability, epilepsy and cardiomegaly, and she sometimes needs a wheelchair. Mother Mel Olsen has beaten cancer twice but is now terminal after the cancer returned and spread. She is now focused on making the most of time with her daughter while she can. With the help of children's charity Very Special Kids, the pair have been given the honour of turning the lights on at the Star on Thursday, July 30. Ignition is set to begin at The District in Docklands from 6:30pm, with lights on at 6:45pm. "I'm so excited to watch [Charli-Koko] have her moment and be seen," Ms Olsen said. "To watch her have the joy of turning the lights on and everyone celebrating her and the Star, and her having that memory after I pass." While the lights will remain on from this week forward, the new owners are unsure as to when the spinning wheel will open to the public again. A chequered past The attraction has been plagued with issues since it first opened in 2008. It was pulled down for a rebuild in 2009 and stayed closed for almost five years. It reopened in 2013 and remained operational until the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. After another five-year hiatus, the District Docklands website states the wheel is due to reopen some time this year. "It is expected to boost local tourism, create jobs, and support local businesses, acting as a major driver of visitation and economic activity across Docklands and greater Melbourne," the website states. Regardless of the Star's chequered history, Ms Olsen said she was stoked with the progress. "It's amazing. It is incredible. Thank you,"she said.