According to the Victorian Heritage Council, the Melbourne suburb of Richmond has the greatest concentration of surviving sky-signs in the state, which also include the classic Skipping Girl (affectionately known as Audrey), Slade Knitwear and the Pelaco Shirt Factory signage. Foe the passer-by the most prominent is the Nylex Clock on Punt Road.

1. Dimmeys Clock A wonderful use of type as the numerals of the clock. One of the only places where the time can be ‘An E past a D‘. | 2. The ‘X’ Building When they say that ‘X marks the spot’ they’re not kidding – this is definitely the biggest X in Melbourne. Our investigations are yet to unearth the rationale behind this building – one theory is that it is or was a Xerox Office but this has not been confirmed. The letter Y is also prominent which dispelled early theories of it being based on roman numerals. | 3. Nuttlex Frize On the corner of Balmain and Swan Streets sits one of the best illuminated scripts at human height. Even better than that, as it sits alongside the ideosyncratic Nuttlex logo – a squirrel with a schoolbag. | 4. Bryant and May Clock Another fine example of a typographically-based clockface. It is fair to assume that this may have pre-dated the Dimmeys clock. | 5. Slade Knitwear Without a doubt one of the most sublimely beautiful signs in Melbourne. The Slade Knitwear sign from the mid 1960’s is apparently the largest neon “sky sign” in Victoria, at 31 metres long, though it is not lit these days. It can be clearly seen in silhouette from the platforms of Richmond railway station, not far from the distinctive Bryant & May factory clock tower. | Along the way… See the Rosella Factory typography – accompanied by beautifully colourful painted renditions of Rosella birds. A very careful look at the Rosella Factory signage will reveal that, at some point, perhaps as a response to a change in their corporate identity, the linkages between the sculpted script forms have been painted over. | 6. The Nylex Clock The Nylex Clock that sits above the No. 2 Cremorne Silos is perhaps on par with the Pelaco sign in its cultural significance – so much so that it has recently experienced a $300,000 refurbishment (complimnets of the Nylex Corporation). The sign consists of metal shallow-trough letters reading “Nylex Plastics”, outlined with incandescent lights and neon tubes. The Nylex Clock which was erected in 1961, is a much-loved Melbourne icon, both for its aesthetics as well as its utilitarian value in that the LED clock tells you the temperature but also how late you are. The famous clock can be seen for kilometres across Melbourne’s suburbs. In fact, its cultural value as well as its historical value is so great that it is listed in the Victorian Heritage Register (File Number H2049) as being of significance to the State of Victoria. The clock has been the centre of controversy in recent years. In 2003, developers proposed demolishing the silos underneath the clock and constructing an office block instead, with the clock positioned in prominent position on the top (since its removal would be illegal). After many protests and objections, the Victorian Heritage Council decided to heritage-list the silos too, as a reminder of Richmond’s industrial past, and so the proposal was shelved.

Photography: Stephen Banham. Image of Nylex Clock © Adam Dimech, 2005.