This was published 6 years ago
Brisbane's Myer Centre dragon rollercoaster found in Victoria
By Ruth McCosker
About 18 years after the closure of Brisbane's top-floor amusement park Top’s, the famous dragon rollercoaster has been discovered dismantled in Victoria.
Brisbane man Dean Davis posted to a Facebook page, Old Brisbane Album, on Friday which showed photos of the rollercoaster he claimed was at his friend's place in Geelong.
The Top's dragon rollercoaster has been photographed in Melbourne.Credit: Facebook - Old Brisbane Album (Dean Davis)
Mr Davis commented on the post to say the rollercoaster had been turned into a people mover after Top’s closed in 2000.
Top’s opened in 1988 and along with the popular red and gold dragon coaster was also home to a swinging ship, dodgem cars, a jumping castle and a ball pit with a tree in the middle.
The dragon rollercoaster at Top's was a crowd favourite.Credit: Joan Fulton
Top’s closed in 2000 to make way for the present cinema complex.
The photos Mr Davis posted to Facebook show a rollercoaster identical to the one in photos former Top’s manager Joan Fulton sent to Fairfax Media.
Dean Davis said the rollercoaster was out the back of one of his friend's places in Melbourne.Credit: Facebook - Old Brisbane Album (Dean David)
Everything from the red and gold paint to the blue and white trim on the carriages matches, but the new photos show the rollercoaster faded and dirty compared with when it was photographed in its prime in 1989.
A photo of the Top's dragon coaster taken in 1989.Credit: Joan Fulton
Ms Fulton said about two years after Expo 88, Top’s started declining in regular business but the outlet thrived during school holidays.
Top's opened in 1988 and closed in 2000 to make way for a cinema.Credit: Joan Fulton
“The holidays were just packed, those were the best times,” she said.
“I loved that place ... I lived for it, it was just so great I just can’t say enough about Top’s.
“It was great for the kids to come in there.”
Questions have been asked for almost 20 years about what happened to the dragon coaster, but until now they had been largely unanswered.
It was unclear how the rollercoaster made its way to Victoria or when it was last used.
Fairfax Media contacted Mr Davis for comment.