‘Vandals’ May Have Switched Melbourne’s Iconic Nylex Clock Back On

The Nylex Plastics sign on Punt Road was mysteriously switched back on, with the clock and temperature display working for the first time since December of 2007. Drivers heading to work this morning posted the suddenly working sign to social media, with almost unanimously joyous reactions.

Proof from Matty – the Nylex clock lives! “@argoonbag: #melbourne‘s nylex clock ticks once again! #melbourneicon pic.twitter.com/zO1Te3HGgJ“

— KIIS 101.1 Melbourne (@kiis1011) January 28, 2015

My happiness has grown this morning in Leaps & Bounds, the #NylexClock is back on! #Melbourne pic.twitter.com/QJbrnH6JKU

— mike perso (@wangboy) January 28, 2015

A chilly summer’s morning in Melbourne. Richmond’s Nylex clock back on yay #weather @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/o7gfsNvzwL

— Nicole Garmston (@garmoheraldsun) January 28, 2015

After seven years of darkness, Melbourne’s famous Nylex clock has mysteriously returned to life. Details #9NewsAt6 pic.twitter.com/An3DoR8jC7

— Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) January 29, 2015

The clock was shut down seven years ago due to the Nylex company being placed into receivership. It’s remained off and dormant ever since.

The building is owned by property developer Caydon, who plans to establish a boutique brewery and beer-themed museum at the site, and who stated that their plan all along was to keep the clock and place it back in operation. It’s estimated that the clock will cost around $40,000 annually to run.

But it seems that not a lot is known about exactly who flicked the switch to turn it back on – authorities are maintaining that it was “vandals” who managed to scale the silos that the clock sits atop and reactivated the sleeping icon. Though those that saw it back in operation did note that it was running an hour behind, due to not being adjusted for Daylight Savings time.

The clock was famously named in a Paul Kelly song, the film clip to which was film atop the silos.

We’re not exactly sure how people managed to scale the silos to get to the switch. But we’re assuming they did it in Leaps and Bounds.*

*Editor’s note: Not even remotely sorry.