A tireless team of tradies, retirees, and volunteers have put the finishing touches on Wagga's historic 2WG sign, which is being restored to its former glory.
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The final pieces of ceramic were put together on Friday, and it will now be sent to Sydney where it will be fitted with neon lights before being put back to its rightful place on Fitzmaurice Street.
The restoration works have been a labour of love for retiree turned plumber turned beekeeper Brian Hay, who has spent the last few months painstakingly repairing the dilapidated sign by hand.
"We've created a monster, we have," Mr Hay said
"So much for retirement."
However, Mr Hay has not been working alone: four volunteers have spent the last four days meticulously sanding down the layers of paint to make it look like it did in 1927 when it was brand new.
One of the volunteers was his wife Jan Hay, who said the long laborious hours of sanding were all worth it if it meant they could bring an iconic piece of Wagga's history back to life.
"We're not doing it for us, it's for Wagga," she said.
Mrs Hay said the sign meant a great deal to Wagga locals, especially the older generation who have fond memories of walking past the brilliantly illuminated sign back in the 60s and 70s.
Since then it has grown rusty and discoloured from years of wind and rain, and Mrs Hay said the community were keen to see it back in its neon-powered prime.
Several tradies and businesses have volunteered their services and supplies towards the project, and it has received a Wagga City Council heritage grant to go towards the repair bill.
The Hays are aiming to have the sign up and functioning by mid-November at the earliest and Christmas by the latest.
The couple will be paying out of their own pockets for the maintenance and the electricity bill, but they will also be setting up a bank account for community donations to go towards the sign's upkeep.