Coca-Cola's world famous neon billboard is up for charity auction
Gigantic neon billboards aren't that commonplace in Sydney, Australia. That might be why visitors and residents of Sydney have a sincere fondness for one glittering Coca-Cola billboard with a 40-year history.
"The Coke sign" once sat at the gateway of the city's long-established (but now wilting) nightlife centre, Kings Cross. Now that the vintage sign is getting a refurbishment (due to be unveiled mid-September) some of the original parts are going up for auction, with proceeds going to the Wayside Chapel — who've been struggling local people for longer than the sign's been around.
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Image: COCA-COLA
Erected in 1974, the Coca-Cola sign was the crown jewel in the litany of neon signs that dotted bohemian William Street in the '60s and '70s. It's powered by 1,200 red and white neon tubes, with the largest letters reaching 5.43 metres (17 feet) tall and weighing 65 kilograms (143 lbs).
Image: coca-cola
The age of neon has been and gone in the city, but the call to "Enjoy Coca-Cola" still sparkles in the minds of generations of clubbers, thrill-seekers and denizens of Kings Cross.
Image: COCA-COLA
The sign also appeared in Cold Chisel's 1984 music video, "Saturday Night" (about 3:16 in the clip) and it was given a touching tribute in Baz Lurhman's Strictly Ballroom.
The auction will run on eBay for five days starting from Sep. 7 at 8 p.m. until Sep. 12 at 8 p.m., where each letter of the Coca-Cola script will be sold off separately.
Image: COCA-COLA
And there's the youth of many Sydneysiders, gone forever. #RIP
