History - The Changing Face of Luna Park
The 1990's
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| Early 1990's restoration work |
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After years of lobbying by the dedicated Friends of Luna Park assisted
by North Sydney Council, the government passed the Luna Park Site
Act in 1990. This act made the site Crown land dedicated for public
recreation, amusement and entertainment. The Luna Park Reserve Trust
was formed and took control of the park on 12 October 1990 and major
restoration of all its buildings began in 1992
After the State Government spent a reported $55m on revamping the
Park it reopened in January 1995 under the management of Luna Park
Amusements Pty Ltd – a joint venture company whose major shareholders
were the Government through Luna Park Reserve Trust and Wittingslow
Amusement Group of Melbourne. It was open for only just over a year,
residents complaints about the new Big Dipper caused it to be closed
in February 1996. Without the revenue from the Big Dipper, running
the Park as an amusement park was not viable.
In 1997, the Government adopted The Luna Park Plan of Management
after consultation with residents, the general public and potential
operators. The precinct of Luna Park and its associated heritage
items were classified and placed on the Register of the National
Estate.
The operators of the Metro Theatre in George Street Sydney, Peter
Hearne and Warwick Doughty, along with Michael Edgley formed Metro
Edgley Pty. Ltd. (MEPL) to bring their vision for the closed park
to fruition. The large Australian construction company Multiplex
along with local businessmen joined MEPL and after a long and rigorous
public tender process period, the NSW Government announced in July
1999 that Metro Edgley was the preferred proponent to lease and
run the Park.
In July 2001 the Big Dipper rollercoaster was sold and moved to
Dreamworld on Queensland’s Gold Coast and renamed “the
Cyclone”. Final approvals for the redevelopment work were
announced on 25 January 2003 and building work commenced soon after.
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| 2004 Redevelopment with new
Big Top on the right |
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The redevelopment is based on keeping the site’s unique identity
and heritage features while providing a range of new entertainment,
tourism and social facilities. A new 2,000 seat Big Top, onsite
car park, restaurant/brasserie, refurbished Crystal Palace function
centre now stand alongside the restored old favourites Coney Island,
Wild Mouse, Rotor and other classic rides. At a cost in excess of
$80 million and at no cost to the taxpayer, the Park re-opened on
4 April 2004.
The tradition of popular art at Luna Park continues. Ashley Taylor
who worked alongside artist Peter Kingston in the early 1990’s
is the current artist in residence, creating visual delights for
the new millennium. Martin Sharp is working on a new ceramic tribute
for the Ghost Train memorial.
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