Starlight Drive-In Sign Restoration
The refurbishment of the Starlight sign adjacent to the Federal Highway was undertaken by Philip Leeson Architects as project manager and conservation architect, on behalf of ACT Heritage.
The Starlight Drive-in Theatre Sign remains the only tangible reminder in the ACT of the iconic era of drive-ins that dotted the Australian landscape from the mid-twentieth century.
Builder: Tony Mostert and Rick Gulliford from Screenmakers
The Starlight Drive-in Theatre Sign remains the only tangible reminder in the ACT of the iconic era of drive-ins (outdoor theatres where patrons viewed films from parked cars) which dotted the Australian landscape from the mid-twentieth century. Drive-in theatres were immensely popular as a form of entertainment and the sign remains an iconic symbol. They had their peak popularity from the 1950s until the 1970s, and have formed a strong component in the psyche and consciousness of the community who attended them. They are also iconic symbols of this era for all.
The Starlight Drive-In Theatre Sign at Watson is thought to be the only original drive-in theatre sign in Australia that still stands in its original location.
The sign is important as evidence of a distinctive custom of the drive-in theatre era which is no longer practised in the ACT. As the only reminder of the drive-in era in the ACT, it also has a strong association with this cultural phase.