Luna Park
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
Welcome to Luna Park – Sydney’s oldest and iconic amusement park. It opened in 1935.
The inspiration for Luna Park stemmed back to the popularity of amusement parks throughout the 19th Century in the USA – particularly at Coney Island.
The park initially cost 60,000 pounds and was constructed in just over 3 months, following the hard work of 800 structural workers, 70 electricians and 35 artists! The park was an immediate success – partly because it is one of the only amusement parks in the world that is free to enter.
Luna Park's 9-metre-wide (30 ft) smiling face, as well as its flanking towers, have presided over the main entrance for almost all of the park's existence. There have been eight distinct faces, installed over its history. The current Face, completed in 1994 is carved from polyurethane and is based on "Old King Cole" from the British nursery rhyme. You might remember it. It goes:
Old King Cole was a merry old soul
And a merry old soul was he;
He called for his pipe, and he called for his bowl
And he called for his fiddlers three.
Every fiddler he had a fiddle,
And a very fine fiddle had he;
Oh there's none so rare, as can compare
With King Cole and his fiddlers three
During the second World War, the park remained open, however the lights were "browned out" at night
for security reasons in case of attack from the Japanese navy. During this period, Luna Park became a hugely popular stomping ground for Servicemen, both American and Australian.
One of the original and most popular rides in Luna Park was the “haunted” Ghost Train. In 1979, a fire occurred during a ride with 35 people on board. Tragically 6 Children and 1 Adult died – still to this day no one knows what started the fire. This fateful day, caused the entire Luna Park to close down completely.
It was another 3 years before the park reopened in 1982, resembling its current appearance. Since then a law has been passed to ensure that its position in Australian history has been protected forever with the “Luna Park Act” established in 1990. It is now one of only two parks in the world protected by Government legislation.
Admission is free so come and take a stroll through one of Sydney's oldest, most endearing icons and soak up the great atmosphere and extraordinary views.
The inspiration for Luna Park stemmed back to the popularity of amusement parks throughout the 19th Century in the USA – particularly at Coney Island.
The park initially cost 60,000 pounds and was constructed in just over 3 months, following the hard work of 800 structural workers, 70 electricians and 35 artists! The park was an immediate success – partly because it is one of the only amusement parks in the world that is free to enter.
Luna Park's 9-metre-wide (30 ft) smiling face, as well as its flanking towers, have presided over the main entrance for almost all of the park's existence. There have been eight distinct faces, installed over its history. The current Face, completed in 1994 is carved from polyurethane and is based on "Old King Cole" from the British nursery rhyme. You might remember it. It goes:
Old King Cole was a merry old soul
And a merry old soul was he;
He called for his pipe, and he called for his bowl
And he called for his fiddlers three.
Every fiddler he had a fiddle,
And a very fine fiddle had he;
Oh there's none so rare, as can compare
With King Cole and his fiddlers three
During the second World War, the park remained open, however the lights were "browned out" at night
for security reasons in case of attack from the Japanese navy. During this period, Luna Park became a hugely popular stomping ground for Servicemen, both American and Australian.
One of the original and most popular rides in Luna Park was the “haunted” Ghost Train. In 1979, a fire occurred during a ride with 35 people on board. Tragically 6 Children and 1 Adult died – still to this day no one knows what started the fire. This fateful day, caused the entire Luna Park to close down completely.
It was another 3 years before the park reopened in 1982, resembling its current appearance. Since then a law has been passed to ensure that its position in Australian history has been protected forever with the “Luna Park Act” established in 1990. It is now one of only two parks in the world protected by Government legislation.
Admission is free so come and take a stroll through one of Sydney's oldest, most endearing icons and soak up the great atmosphere and extraordinary views.
Download the free izi.TRAVEL app
Create your own audio tours!
Use of the system and the mobile guide app is free
