Meet Little Audrey! Audrey has been a hugely popular Melbourne landmark since 1936. She was originally constructed as an advertisement for Skipping Girl vinegar and was Australia’s first animated neon sign. Little Audrey skipped on top of the vinegar factory until 1968 when it was demolished. Unfortunately Whelan the Wrecker claimed ownership of Audrey and sold her to a used car dealership.
Little Audrey was so popular there was a massive public outcry and a local businessman worked with the council to try and bring her back. Unfortunately they were unable to purchase the original Audrey so in 1970 a replica was built and placed a short distance from her first home in Victoria Street in Abbotsford.
She skipped for another 20 years until the building was sold and her lights went out again. Fortunately the new owners included Little Audrey in their building refurbishment and she was soon in lights again.
Little Audrey had another brush with death in 2001 when her owners decided they could no longer afford her power and maintenance. For eight long years she stood in darkness unable to skip for the Melbourne public.
Once more Little Audrey was saved by her popularity when, thanks to a very successful public donations campaign, she was back fully restored and skipping again in 2009. Little (green) Audrey is now powered by solar energy so should skip for many more years to come.
This Melbourne Life 
Such an awesome landmark! Love that she is now powered with solar energy!
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Thanks Lisa. She is awesome and skips not far from where I live now which I love as I see her often.
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Yay the public won!
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Three times. Hopefully solar power and the good old Aussie sun will keep her going for ever.
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I love happy endings even if her eyes are a bit demonic
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Apparently you can hire the rooftop just below her for parties now. That’d be pretty awesome.
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Thanks for sharing that. Nice story.
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Thanks Lucile. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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Very much! Thank you.
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Thank goodness to see old can be mixed with new technology she’s gorgeous .
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Thanks Shell. Yes, good to see new technology will keep her running for many years to come.
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I have never seen her, but what an interesting tale of her life
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She’s not far from where I live – right near where Victoria St crosses the Yarra River.
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i LOVE the fact that they have used renewable energy and to keep a tradition and an icon in existence. Fabulous effort. I am heading to Melbourne soon, so I would love to see her. Is it near the city?
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She’s not too far from the city (about 3km) at 651 Victoria St Abbotsford. You can get there by tram – the number 109 or 12. It’s best to go at dusk or night time to see her skipping.
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Ok thanks so much for the info
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Also, thanks for the feedback. I hope you enjoy your visit to Melbourne.
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Oh, I love the little Audrey ongoing story. It is because of posts like yours that also bring her back to life and new discovery. Thank you. Lil sis xo
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Awww. That’s so nice. Thanks. xo
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She certainly lights up the sky. I’ve never seen her before. I’ll have to ask my sister about her. Would be fantastic to have a party on the rooftop below her.
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It certainly would.
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What a great story. Being from Sydney I hadn’t heard of Audrey but I would love to see her. She is definitely worth saving.
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Thanks! You’ll have to come and see her next time you’re down here.
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Definitely. It has been a while. My double rainbow gravatar was taken in Melbourne from the Aquatic Centre.
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