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Canberra Today 25°/29° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Sign closer to safety

The Starlight sign was installed on January 3, 1957

THE heritage protection of the 55-year-old neon Starlight Drive-In sign in Watson is one step closer to being secured.

Starlight apartment complex owner occupier Mick Motion-Wise earlier this year nominated the sign as an object of historic cultural value with the ACT Heritage Council.

Mr Motion-Wise said he has heard from the council this past week that the application was accepted and expects a decision will be made on whether the sign will receive heritage protection in the next two months.

His application argued that the Starlight sign was an important piece of Canberra’s heritage and a significant emblem of Australia’s cinematic history as the only 1950s drive-in sign remaining on its original site.

“CityNews” first wrote about the classic, American-style drive-in cinema sign and its deteriorating condition, last October.

The campaign to save the sign received overwhelming support from the National Film and Sound Archive, the ACT Government and readers.

The neon sign, made in Sydney, was erected, as it stands today, on January 3, 1957.

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Ian Meikle, editor

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