Sydney’s long lost amusement parks

FROM our first ‘fairy city’ in the east to the demise of Wonderland in the west, Sydney has had a long-running love affair with amusement parks.

FROM bloody historic re-enactments to early forays into virtual reality, Sydney’s amusement parks have put smiles on the dials of children for more than a century.

But while once we could be waterslide warriors every weekend, most of the city’s theme parks have now turned to dust so in the name of nostalgia, we take a look at 10 of the best.

1. African Lion Safari Park

A lion lunches at Warragamba’s African Lion Safari Park. Picture: Facebook.

“It’s the African Lion safari ... it’s scary but nobody cares!”

The TV jingle wasn’t off the mark. This drive-through exotic animal park on the outskirts of Sydney was at times a harrowing stop for holiday-makers.

It wasn’t uncommon for the resident tigers and lions to paw windows, climb on cars and even take a bite out of a tyre.

A lion watches on at the African Lion Cup Safari at Warragamba

Circus owner Stafford Bullen opened the Warragamba park in 1968 and about 200,000 people a year poured through its gates during its heyday.

But sprawling suburbia, stringent animal regulations and costly upgrades caught up with the park in 1991 and it closed for good. Animals remained on site for some years but a series of breakouts by lionesses, a bear and water buffaloes eventually got residents’ goat. They were relocated and the site now stands derelict.

2. Old Sydney Town

Convict floggings featured plenty of fake blood. Picture: YouTube.

Old Sydney Town ran for almost three decades before closing in 2003.

A regular stop on the school excursion circuit in the 1970s and 80s, many adults will hold vivid memories of the bloody convict floggings staged at Old Sydney Town.

The blood splattered punishment dished out to naughty convicts was part of a packed program of historic re-enactments that enthralled and horrified young visitors at the Somersby park.

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Opening in 1975, the site was a recreation of Sydney based on an 1803 map and its streets were alive with actors inhabiting the role of early colonial settlers.

Redcoats of Old Sydney Town take a break.

In between happy snaps in stockades and face fulls of old-fashioned lollies, visitors were entertained by realistic convict rebellions, soldiers’ parades and thundering cannons.

Sadly, a stroll through history was no match for computer games and other hi-tech thrills, and the park closed in 2003.

3. El Caballo Blanco

Riders on horses at the entrance of El Caballo Blanco, home of the famous dancing stallions, 1984.

Spanish dancing horses were the stars of the El Caballo Blanco theme park at Camden Way, which opened in 1972.

The Andalusian dancing stallions remained a premier attraction for many years, and owner Ray Williams went on to establish an El Caballo Blanco park at Disneyland in the US.

Non-equestrian activities such as waterslides, train rides and a mini zoo gave the park longevity but after Williams’ death, operations gradually wound down and ceased in 2003.

4. Magic Kingdom

Waterslides, the astro spin, a ferris wheel, mini golf and more for just $6 bucks! The Magic Kingdom near Liverpool was a bargain day out for western Sydney families from the 1970s until Australia’s Wonderland ruined the party.

Fun park fare like radio-controlled cars and petrol-powered mini-boats paled in comparison to blockbuster attractions like Wonderland’s Bush Beast and the Kingdom’s magic days came to an end in the 1990s. The site was sold off to developers in 2004.

5. Sega World

Punters on the virtual reality ride at Sega World.

Entrance to the Time Transportation Tunnel ride at Sega World.

Sega World lived fast and died young, with the indoor hi-tech amusement park operating for just four years before biting the dust.

The flagship tenant of tourist attraction Darling Harbour, Sega World was pretty awesome for its time.

Sega World in Darling Harbour, Australia's first indoor theme park.

Opening in 1997, it brought forth the Rail Chase indoor roller coaster, a shoot em up Ghost Hunter train, the 3D motion simulator Aqua Nova plus a 4D cinema, coin-up video arcades and the Mad Bazooka tank simulator.

Sega World, however, wasn’t to last, and after continual losses, closed its doors in 2000.

6. Mt Druitt Waterworks

Run jointly with Manly Waterworks, the Mt Druitt waterworks featured waterslides, a beach pool, bumper boats, whitewater rapids and even a “sky dive” slippery dip.

Western suburbs kids would have lived at the park during the summers of the eighties until, allegedly, rumours of razor blades on the waterslide brought everything to an end.

The razor blade tale was just an urban myth, however, and the Waterworks’ profits simply went the way of other theme parks. Down the gurgler.

7. Australia’s Wonderland

The Demon roller-coaster at Australia's Wonderland.

Tourists meeting Yogi Bear in Hanna-Barbera Land.

The Bush Beast, Space Probe and Hannah Barbera Land bring back warm memories for countless Sydneysiders and nostalgia still rides high for the blockbuster theme park.

When it opened in 1985, it really seemed like a wonderland although for some parents, it would prove “too much fun to have in one day”, especially after the Bounty’s Revenge exacted a nauseating toll on its young riders.

A downturn in profits, however, saw the park close its gates for the last time in 2004 and the park was demolished the following year.

8. White City Amusement Park

The Broadway in White City showing the Palais Des Folies. Picture: National Library of Australia

The Scenic Railway at White City. Picture: National Library of Australia

White City hosted three summers of fantasy rides, highwire acts and other marvels before a lightning strike and fire shut it down.

Built by film entrepreneur Cozens Spencer in 1913, the open-air amusement park in Rushcutters Bay was a fantastic affair. A scenic railway around an artificial mountain took centre stage in this miniature world of lakes, canals and pleasure palaces. Brass bands, side shows, fairgrounds, a Japanese village and a giant carousel brought thousands of visitors through the gates until the park’s fiery end.

9. Coogee Pier

Coogee Pier, an ambitious project that ended up all at sea.

Stretching 180m out to sea, Coogee Pier was built in 1928 to emulate the boardwalks of England’s coastal towns.

With its restaurants, shops, penny arcades, swimming net, 1400-seat theatre and 600 capacity ballroom, it was a magnificent destination that helped enhance Coogee’s position as a resort town. But thrashing surf would eventually take its toll, damaging the pier until it was demolished in 1934.

10. The original: Wonderland City

The Wonderland Amusement Park in 1906.

More than 20,000 people travelled to Tamarama for the opening of the “fairy city” that was Wonderland on December 1, 1906. William Anderson’s 8ha amusement park was buzzing with novel attractions and rides. There was an artificial lake, a double decker merry-go-round, a labyrinth, boxing tent, seal pond, circus ring, movie house, penny parlours even a Japanese tearoom. A floating airship extended over the sea but it was an elephant called Alice that stole Sydney’s heart. While 2000 people visited every summer weekend, interest eventually waned and by 1911, Wonderland was no more.

Alice the Elephant at Anderson's Wonderland.