Magic Mountain: Full story of Gold Coast Theme Park’s rise, fall and closure
Magic Mountain was one of the Gold Coast’s most famous icons of the 1980s. But its end came quickly and left devastation in its wake.
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EVERYONE who came to the Gold Coast or lived here in the 1980s has a memory of Magic Mountain.
One of the city’s most beloved icons, it towered over Nobby Beach and Miami and was a landmark for decades.
From thrill rides to its famous magic show performed by master illusionist Arthur Coglan, there was something for everyone.
But it closed for the first time in 1987 and by 1991 the rides were silent and rotting as the park sat in ruins.
The story of Magic Mountain began 60 years ago when Page Newman opened the Nobby Beach chairlift.
In February 1976, the site was bought by George Carrett, who redeveloped it to include a small castle.
He was soon joined by Mr Coghlan.
During its first year of operation, the park’s magic show was hosted in the castle before a boom in attendance figures prompted the construction of a 500-seat theatre.
In 2009, Mr Coghlan recalled his fond memories of his nine-year stint as resident magician.
“It was a wonderful opportunity which allowed us to grow from a small act into the largest illusion show in Australia at the time,’’ he told News Corp.
The redevelopment of the site in the early 1980s to create a full-sized theme park cost more than $16m.
It had everything from slides to carousels, ball pits and a parachute drop, all of which drew big crowds to the Gold Coast.
But by July 1985 the park’s owner, ASC Property Trust, put it on the market and called for tenders “because it differed from the trust’s other major activities, most of which involved shopping centres”.
It was later revealed ASC was selling because “the complex failed to show the returns expected of a $16m investment”.
It was tipped to sell for at least $10m. However, property industry figures were shocked when the initial offers were far lower – ranging from $4m to $6m.
With costs rapidly mounting, ASC, later known as Laureate Australia, closed Magic Mountain in 1987.
Parts of the park continued to be operated occasionally on a limited basis for several more years, although the park as a whole never reopened.
In 1990 the Gold Coast City Council approved plans for a Mediterranean-style hotel and luxury villa development on the 2.15ha site called The Akropolis.
It was again put on the market, with Gavin Farmer of Jones Lang Wootton, who managed the sale, tipping the site to sell for $20m.
Again, it failed to sell, being passed in at auction for $13.1m.
By 1991, Magic Mountain had been deserted for two years and its facilities rotting away.
The chairlift, its original attraction, was long gone, having been moved to Dreamworld.
The bright-red turrets of the castle were collapsing and locals feared passers-by in the Chairlift Ave park could be injured by falling masonry.
That year, police said the ruins of the park had been “taken over by vandals and youths who write obscene graffiti and anti-satanic slogans on the walls where magic shows used to entertain children”.
Nobby Beach Progress Association chairman Paul Fites described the decline and fall of the park as a “tragedy”.
“Everyone knows Magic Mountain,’’ he said.
“If I say I live at Nobby Beach, out-of-towners don’t know where it is. But if I mention the mountain everyone knows. It has a tremendous view and could provide good bushwalks for people. Something should be done with it.”
Then-mayor Lex Bell said he supported council buying the site.
“It is sad to see such a prominent site not used and becoming something of a hazard,’’ he said at the time.
“Ideally, if the city had enough money it would be a great site to purchase for the future. However that may be a dream depending on the cost.
“I would love to acquire it, but it may be just a dream.’’
By 1993, six years after the original closure, the ruins of Magic Mountain were still standing, but were in increasingly poor shape.
Laureate put it back on the market, this time subdividing it into three parcels to ensure it would be easier to sell.
The lower parcel sold in November 1993 for $1.35m, with the remains of the theme park finally demolished in 1995. That year, plans were unveiled for residential developments from Raptis and Walker Bros, including the Magic Mountain resort which was built on the former theme park site.
The only remaining signs of what once sat on the hill are some of the chairlift poles that can still be seen amid the bushland.
Magic Mountain is gone but it forever remains in the memories of locals and tourists.
Wondering what happened to Raymondo Rabbit?
He was the Gold Coast’s answer to Mickey Mouse, entertaining children and posing for photos at one of the Gold Coast’s most famous theme parks.
But Magic Mountain mascot Raymondo Rabbit disappeared from the limelight at the height of his fame in the 1980s.
His whereabouts were unknown since he last appeared at the Nobby Beach theme park in mid-1987.
Until now.
Raymondo, who was first spotted at Magic Mountain in the early 1980s, hopped back into his old stomping ground this week to see how much it has changed since his heyday, the Bulletin can reveal after tracking him down.
It was his first public appearance since the late Bob Hawke was Prime Minister.
And didn’t take the seven-foot-tall brunette bunny long to turn the clock back 35 years and conjure up the old magic, waving at children and strutting out his classic blue three-piece ensemble, complete with cape and bow tie, while walking along Chairlift Ave at Nobby.
Magic Mountain is long gone with its castle replaced by a unit development but it will always been home to Raymondo.
So what happened?
It turns he has enjoyed a quiet retirement on the Glitter Strip.
Raymondo was the theme park’s mascot and a Gold Coast 1980s fixture, seen daily patrolling the park, waving at fans and taking photos.
He also appeared on stage with Master illusionist Arthur Coghlan and his daughter, accomplished illusionist Helen Coghlan, in its famous magic show.
Magic Mountain closed in mid-1987. Its owner ASC Property Trust faced mounting costs after spending more than $16m to expand the park in the early 1980s.
Like all the other employees, Raymondo was out of a job but found a home with Les Ward, who owned the land.
Sections of the park continued to be operated occasionally on a limited basis for several years, but the park as a whole never reopened.
The Gold Coast’s more prosperous theme parks bought up many Magic Mountain rides. Dreamworld took the Miami headland’s famous chairlift and many staff.
But Raymondo decided to pull an Ash Barty and hang up his cape at the top of his game.
In the early 1990s Mr Ward sent him to live with a new family in Helensvale.
His long retirement was broken by the occasional performance, including an appearance at a 1997 birthday party.
This month he moved again, taking up residence in Southport with Bulletin reporter Andrew Potts who found him for sale online.
Mr Coghlan, who was Magic Mountain’s resident magician for nearly a decade, said he was delighted to hear Raymondo was in good health.
“Working Raymondo was just great, he was a really wonderful character,” the 88-year-old said this week.
“The kids loved him, especially when he was on stage and a lot of people had their photos with him.
“Heck yes I have fond memories of that time, I even remember when Raymondo appeared at the Carnival of Flowers parade and he even travelled with us to promote the Gold Coast.”
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