Kylie Minogue Honored with Star in Victoria Park’s Skyline

Kylie Minogue graced the Los Angeles Premiere of Paramount Pictures’ “Bob Marley: One Love” at Regency Village Theatre on February 6, 2024, in Hollywood. After nearly four decades as Australia’s beloved Princess of Pop, her enduring legacy was celebrated with a star installation at Melbourne Parks sporting complex.

Minogue launched her global Tension Tour in Perth on February 15 and received the honor on Saturday (February 22) before performing back home in Melbourne. This event coincided with one of three consecutive performances at Rod Laver Arena, which held its first of Minogues shows way back in February 1990 under a different name.

Over the years since her debut at Rod Laver Arena three and a half decades ago, Minogue has played 30 concerts at Melbourne Park. These performances have sold more than 350,000 tickets. Her recent trio of shows added to these totals with an additional 36,000 ticket sales, cementing her status as one of the most successful artists ever to play in this venue.

The star unveiling took place on February 22 under the direction of Melbourne Park CEO John Harnden AM. Its location in front of Rod Laver Arena is fitting, adjacent to a statue commemorating late promoter Michael Gudinski. Initially signing Minogue with Mushroom Records in 1987 and promoting all her Australian concerts since then, Frontier Touring Company has been instrumental.

“Its hard to believe its been 35 years since I first stepped on stage at this venue,” said Minogue about the honor. “Im honored to be acknowledged here in my hometown of Melbourne. It seems appropriate that MG will be watching over my star each day. Im incredibly thankful to all the fans who have attended my shows over the years.”

Harnden echoed these sentiments, stating, Kylie has a longstanding and record-breaking association with Melbourne Park. Its only fitting we celebrate her amazing legacy with this star, cementing her name in the history of this great destination for live events.

The installation also coincides with an effort to reinstate Minogue’s statue in Melbourne following its removal in 2016. A bronze likeness sculpted by Peter Corlett had been stored after being taken down to make way for a $140 million AUD apartment block.

Melbourne Mayor Nicholas Reece expressed support, saying he would love to see her statue reinstated due to Minogues significant contribution and Melbourne’s deficit of statues honoring women. “If we could get a statue of Kylie back up again,” he stated, “it will remind all the boys and girls of Melbourne that great Melburnians come in all shapes, sizes, and genders.”

Minogues latest album, II, reached No. 98 on the Billboard 200 and claimed her fourth consecutive record to top Australia’s ARIA charts upon its October release. Her eighth overall chart-topping success followed the Grammy-winning “Padam Padam” from Tension in 2023.