Nylex Clock, Neon sign and clock on grain silos in Richmond, Victoria, Australia.
The Nylex Clock is a large neon and LED display system mounted atop vintage grain storage silos from the 1950s that once held barley. The sign alternates between displaying time, temperature readings, and company messages across its multiple light sections and lettering.
Built in 1961 by Neon Electric Signs for Nylex Plastics, the display became a signature landmark during Richmond's industrial boom years. After facing demolition plans in 2003, it gained heritage protection in 2004 and underwent major restoration in 2005 using new LED technology.
The neon sign blends commerce and public timekeeping, turning advertising into a fixture of daily city life that residents and visitors notice naturally. Its changing messages made it a conversation piece where people learned to recognize business branding as part of their surroundings.
The display is clearly visible from street level and can be observed while walking or driving past the site, with the neon and LED lights showing best during evening and night hours. The location is accessible by public transport and offers multiple viewing angles from nearby streets.
The structures supporting the sign are grain silos originally built in the 1950s to store barley, not advertising, making the later placement of the lights an unexpected transformation of industrial infrastructure. The display gained fame through photographs, films, and Paul Kelly's 1987 song Leaps and Bounds, which helped cement its identity as a cultural symbol.
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