Celebrating a Melbourne icon: Luna Park turns 110 years old
After surviving two world wars, the depression and the pandemic, Luna Park is celebrating 110 years of bringing joy to Melbourne.
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A staple of Melbourne’s image and culture is celebrating more than a century of fun and entertainment.
Luna Park is Australia’s oldest amusement park, and has created generations of memories for families all around the world.
Opened by two brothers and inspired by America’s own Coney Island, Mr Moon first opened his mouth on St Kilda’s foreshore in 1912.
More than a century after its opening, hundreds of people walk through Mr Moon’s mouth everyday, revelling in the mix of old and new that Luna Park provides.
Luna Park’s chief executive Mary Stuart said her journey with the amusement park began long before her working life did.
“My grandmother lived in Middle Park,” she said.
“Sometimes when we were visiting her, as a treat we would get to go down to Luna Park.”
Like millions of Melburnians, Ms Stuart’s memories of the park span generations.
“It’s somewhere many people had come as children, and now they are bringing their own children, and grandchildren,” she said.
“It really is a special place, and part of the fabric of Melbourne.”
Ms Stuart said the combination of nostalgia, charm and the newly introduced ‘thrill rides’ has kept people coming back to the park for over 100 years.
“There are very few heritage parks like this anywhere in the world,” she said.
“Given that we are still going after 110 years, I am very confident we will continue to thrive in the future.”
As for what the next 110 years has in store for Luna Park, Ms Stuart had a stellar vision.
“We might end up on the moon in 110 years, who knows?” She joked.
Holding both fantastic and unique attractions, the park was restored between 1999 and 2001, when the Carousel was refurbished, reinvigorating one of the park’s oldest rides, which holds a large band organ at its heart that was made in Paris around 1909.
The organ the only one of its kind in Australia, and one of just five in the world.
Luna Park has attracted many famous visitors over the 110 years Mr Moon’s mouth has been open, including the Queen, Tim Burton, Jennifer Lopez and Serena Williams.
Ms Stuart said that Luna Park was an essential stop in any Melbourne visit.
“I always say, if you haven’t been to Luna Park, you haven’t really been to Melbourne.”
MORE VINTAGE PHOTOS OF LUNA PARK
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