Land of Legend: Beloved Gold Coast tourist attraction in Tugun Castle from 1980-2004

This long-forgotten Gold Coast tourist attraction drew in huge crowds for many years until it underwent a dramatic change, offering audiences “sex comedy”. IT’S WILD STORY

The Gold Coast has had plenty of tourist attractions that shone brightly but faded from memory.

Among those still fondly remembered decades after its closure is Tugun’s Land of Legend, which opened in its very own fairytale castle 45 years ago.

It was founded by Bette Symonds, a one-time fashion model who moved to the Gold Coast in the early 1970s with her husband Bruce.

Symonds brought with her from Adelaide her increasingly large collection of fairytale characters, which she had begun creating in 1968.

During a period of poor health, Symonds started making outfits for her toys and characters and this soon became a big hobby.

Land of Legend in 1986. Picture: Karin Grant

Once established on the Gold Coast, the couple decided to display the collection, which also included antiques she’d acquired.

By the mid-1970s they opened The Land of Legend, initially in Currumbin.

It soon became a major tourist attraction, with the Symonds’ collection dubbed Australia’s largest, with more than 4000 pieces.

Among the dioramas were recreations of the Kelly Gang, King Arthur and his knights, pirates, Henry VIII and his wives, Sleeping Beauty and her bed chamber, Alice in Wonderland, and Old Mother Hubbard. Some of the pieces were more than 200 years old.

Among those who wrote to the Symonds in those earlier years included Hollywood actor John Wayne.

Bette Symonds with one of her creations. Picture: Supplied

In 1980 the Symonds built their castle on land they owned on Tugun’s Boyd St and moved the collection there.

The purpose-built castle had everything from battlements and turrets to the sword in the stone near its front entrance.

A beloved southern Gold Coast institution, it was a must-visit location for holiday-makers and locals.

A review of The Land of Legend published by News Corp in the early 1990s celebrated it for being a unique attraction.

Some of the characters. Picture: Supplied

“It advertises itself as A Great Tourist Attraction, which is enough to put most people off, but once inside, you will be bowled over by the sheer eccentricity of the countless rooms, crammed with one woman’s obsession with fairytales and historical curiosities,” it said.

“Some people live to see their dreams realised, and Bette Symonds, who had collected bits and pieces of ephemera all her life, spent 26 years putting the collection together and building this edifice to house it.”

Bette Symonds died in 1991 and the attraction was managed for several years by her friend Nita Myers.

Gulliver’s travels. Picture: Supplied

The building was sold in 1995 and was revamped as Gold Coast Partyworld.

It hosted children’s parties for several years before changing hands again and becoming a function centre, renamed The Comedy Castle.

Mike and Julie Chavaux bought the property and surrounding land for $650,000 in January, 2000, and refitted the 680sq m interior soon afterwards.

Its live shows, centred on a medieval theme, were the southern Gold Coast’s version of the popular Dracula’s Cabaret Restaurant at Broadbeach.

Land of Legend closed in 1995 but the castle continued to operate for another decade. Picture: Supplied

However, in October, 2003, it was targeted by undercover police and liquor licensing officials following complaints about its controversial Naughty Night production.

Promoted as a “sex comedy” featuring characters such as the Naked Chef and Anita Lubricant, a stripper performed at one show drawing the attention of the prostitution licensing officials as well.

The stripper did not go the full monty and the only fault that could be found was that a blocked fire escape needed to be reopened.

The Comedy Castle ceased trading on December 18, 2004 and was demolished in 2006.