For almost 90 years, the iconic Skipping Girl neon sign in Abbotsford has been a comforting, cheerful presence for commuters driving home. But now, this familiar landmark looks a little different. The Skipping Girl sign has been temporarily switched off, and replaced with Scrolling Girl. Hunched over in an endless scroll, this installation is a stark reminder about how much time young people are looking at their screens.
A Heritage Landmark Gets a Digital Update
Originally constructed in the 1930s and rebuilt in 1970, the brightly lit landmark on Victoria Street is an instantly recognisable piece of local history. It usually features a continuous, looping animation of a cheerful girl skipping a glowing rope. For generations, the Skipping Girl, known as Little Audrey, represented an active era of childhood play.
But now, this space has received a contemporary makeover. Scrolling Girl is sitting still, with only her hands moving the screen on her phone.
She was created by artist Jack Pullen, the great nephew of the original sign’s designer Gaye West. He was also trained by Steven Cole, the son of the original neon artist for Skipping Girl.
The transformation is part of a nationwide campaign from Dairy Farmers to get kids moving. They’ve teamed up with Team Kids to give out over 7,000 skipping ropes to 270 Australian schools, culminating in a 10-week skipping challenge.
This Scrolling Girl installation is now visible for a very limited time, between 6pm and 10pm. The original Skipping Girl sign will be switched back on from April 19.
To learn more about the campaign, click here.