Once the largest amusement park in the southern hemisphere "where there was magic on every corner", the Wonderland management company, Sunway Group, blamed a multitude of factors for its closure including the September 11 attacks and the collapse of Ansett. TBoy All times AEDT (GMT +11). Get The New Daily free every morning and evening. Wonderland's demise follows the closure of Old Sydney Town on the Central Coast and the Kinkuna Country Fun and Fauna Park at Lakes Entrance, Victoria. The ride was sold in 2005 to Fly Coaster, a small. Tweet. This amusement park in Frankston, opened its doors in 1966 and operated for almost 10 years. When we took over eight years ago, the park's future was uncertain, Since then, we have lifted the overall performance of the park, completely rebuilt its image and brand awareness but this had not been enough. Remembering Australia's Wonderland Sydney - Hope 103.2 He cited events including September 11, the Ansett and HIH collapses, bushfires and SARS. Unlike the Demon, Space Probe's future wasn't as fruitful. Lost Sydney: Australia's Wonderland Wonderland Sydney - Wikiwand News 4; More attractions at Wonderland Sydney Top rated experiences at Wonderland Sydney. Beasties two blue PTC Trains under the cover of the stables in the back paddock behind Minchinbury reservoir. Theme park analyst David Barbuto, of JPI Consulting, says Wonderland had lost its identity and did not offer a sufficient menu of attractions to lock people into a four- to six-hour stay. We couldnt get the smiles off our faces, he said of the visit. Successive inconveniences and high costs caused Wonderland Eurasia to . It was sad to look out and see there really was nothing left of it. The park was sold in 1997 to the Kuala Lumpur, based Sunway Group. [1] Officially opened in December 1985 by the Premier of New South Wales, Neville Wran,[2] the park was the largest in the southern hemisphere. He was there to witness his childhood favourites being torn to the ground. The park shut its doors in 2005 citing financial woes. While few can forget the thrill of their first roller-coaster ride or twirlingon a merry-go-round, the theme parks wherethese memories were forged are being increasingly forgotten. down the monasteries! log in. Sega World Sydney (1997-2000) Tomteland, Williamtown; White City, Rushcutters Bay; Wonderland City (1906-1911) Wonderland Sydney, Eastern Creek (1985-2004) Queensland. He describes its closure as a tragedy. Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Disneyland closed its gates for a national day of mourning on November 23, 1963, marking the first unplanned closure unrelated to weather in its history. "There was a kind of strange air of serenity after years and years of screams and shouts and the noise of all the rides and the music, the place was tranquil and relatively peaceful in the fading afternoon light. Friday August 26, 2005The Beastie was demolished. Property News:Sunny playground where the growth is only just beginning - domain.com.au, Your web browser is no longer supported. A 'Parachute Tower' built by Vekoma, the Skyhawk consisted of four cars; two for sitting passengers, two for standing. Was Canada'S Wonderland Sold? - Ontario Bakery Wonderland Eurasia, billed as "Europe's biggest theme park," opened in Ankara, Turkey, in March 2019. Wonderland to close - ABC News The Western Sydney marvel deemed as "Wonderland" was a world of escape for families for almost 20 years. Just 14 years ago, Sydneys Wonderland was filled with the screeching of roller-coasters, the scent of dagwood dogs and the laughter and excitement of schoolkids spending their pocket money at Australias most loved theme park. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. Why did they decide to close down Wonderland in Sydney. The park would later add rides such as the 'Demon' (1992) and 'Space Probe 7' (1995; sponsored by the Seven Network, who bought naming rights to the ride. Wonderland closed 10 years ago today : ( : r/australia Search, watch, and cook every single Tasty recipe and video ever - all in one place! Theme parks need a capital injection of between $3million and $4million each year to survive. A former employee made a list of what happened to some of the rides. Technology has changed so drastically between decades, he said. ", This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Also thought it was interesting to hear from Neil Balnaves and it pleases me that he is obviously well aware of the need for capital investment in a park. DECEMBER 15, 2004The Snower River Rampage Station, Conveyor and Plant room where destroyed. A Magic Mountain spokesman said all options were being explored, but for now the centre was still trading as a theme park. Started February 23, By "It was a strange feeling to see a place I had loved so much reduced to such a decrepit level of decay and destruction.". But other operators and analysts place the blame closer to home. The park was the largest theme park in the Southern Hemisphere. Bullens African Lion Safari in Rockbank also operated during this time and, much like Ashtons. US residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data. We hold major institutions accountable and expose wrongdoing. Started November 23, 2022, By Ltd. the operator of Wonderland Sydney would close its theme park operation by middle of 2004 as part of the Group's overall rationalization exercise to exit from non-performing business units. The Board of Directors wishes to inform the Exchange that International Theme Park Pty Ltd (a company incorporated in Australia), the operator of Wonderland Sydney in Australia will be closing its theme park operation latest by middle of this year. Relocated from, This page was last edited on 6 February 2023, at 00:58. November 2004The Lake was drained, there was heaps of stuff under there that had fallen out of people'e pockets over the years while on Bountys Revenge. The park had three separate themed areas, including Hanna-Barbera Land, which featured rides and attractions based on characters such as Yogi Bear, Scooby-Doo and The Flintstones. Shooting an 18-minute video this time around for his YouTube channel Abandoned Oz, Mr Van Gerwen was able to see more detail than what he captured last time. Self care and ideas to help you live a healthier, happier life. Watts' obsession with the derelict site shows the impact Wonderland had on his formative years when it was alive and functioning. 3.8 . 2001-02: 79,600. Wonderland Sydney, then known as Australia's Wonderland opened amid much media attention and publicity on 7 December 1985 with financial backing from the New South Wales State Superannuation Board, James Hardie, Leighton Holdings and Taft Broadcasting (through Kings Entertainment Company)[3] at Eastern Creek on the junction of Wallgrove Road and the M4 Motorway. 2002-03: 81,500 Yes it does seem like an eternity, but remember you heard it hear, at Weekend . A spokeswoman from Wonderland declined to comment on the allegations that the park had been neglected. The space probe and the demon were operating and the guysers on the snowy river rampage where going off. A spokeswoman for Intamin told nine.com.au the amusement company lost track of the Giant Drop after it was removed from Wonderland. Australia's theme parks: Dreamworld, Wonderland, Dazzeland, Luna Park dodgem cars, a roller-coaster, an arcade, mini-golf, bumper boats and gravity-defying ride called The Scat. Keep track of all the parks and rides you've experienced, Rate and review your favourite attractions, Join the discussion in our forums to find out what new rides/attractions are on their way. Charlene. Publication: Financial Review Wonderland opened with three separate themed areas within the park: 'Goldrush', 'Medieval Faire' (later renamed Old Botany Bay), and 'Hanna-Barbera Land' (later renamed 'Little Wonders Land' in 20012002) which featured rides and attractions based on characters from Hanna-Barbera animation shows such as Yogi Bear, Scooby-Doo and The Flintstones. Its Rewind Week at BuzzFeed Oz! Sydney's Wonderland theme park is dead and buried but some of its most popular rides live on after finding new homes at theme parks across the globe. The park was the largest theme park in the Southern Hemisphere. He cited events including September 11, the Ansett and HIH collapses, bushfires and SARS. Speaking to Nine News at the time, Mr Naylor said visiting the site brought back memories he had as a child. The developers sought to provide an alternative to the troubled Luna Park Sydney, which had opened and closed multiple times in its recent history. Sydney's Wonderland theme park is dead and buried but some of its most popular rides live on after finding new homes at theme parks across the globe. During Mr Van Gerwens recent voyage to the wasteland, he documented the condition of six paddle boats from Magilla Gorillas Floatillas, plastic water slide tubing, piles of wooden planks possibly from the Wizards Fury train ride, parts of the Fred Flintstones Splashdown sign and the carcass of an old water raft. What did you think of Wonderland Sydney? The site is now mostly occupied by Riverside Oaks golf. Wonderland Sydney - Wikipedia The park was demolished to make way for what is now the Luna Shopping Centre. The park featured dolphin shows, similar to Sea World at the time, and closed due to financial issues. Sydneys Wonderland was the largest amusement park in the southern hemisphere. Wonderland Sydney | Theme Park (Sydney, Australia) It takes another player out of the market." Subscribe for free to get the latest breaking news and analysis sent to your inbox. Crowd pleasers Wonderland, Sydney. More than often new trains and improvements to keep the ride up-to-date are recommended," a spokeswoman said. January 2005ING now own the park outright, all the rides should have been removed and demoliton well under way but everything is still delayed. If there had been one thing I wish could have found when I was out at that boneyard it would have been a piece of the Bush Beast. It was famed for its pyramid which displayed sculptures made of human teeth. Balnaves dismisses claims that international events including September 11 and SARS drove Wonderland to the wall as "excuses". March 10, 2004 in Theme Park Discussion, I have found a couple of articles which give a far more accurate account of why Wonderland is closing and the deceptiveness behind it. The Enchanting Existential Dread of Aussie Theme Parks: Chapter Four Join the conversation, you are commenting as. Of all the rides on the 540 acre site, he has always been most fond of Wonderland's two wooden roller coasters, The Beastie and The Bush Beast. Badgerys Creek is ideal but the sites are still under investigation, he said. Australia's Wonderland's predecessor, Magic Kingdom Amusement Park opened in the 1970s and promised a massive day out for just $6. Mr Eddy said he believed development pressures, rather than hard times, had prompted Wonderland's closure. The Sydney park was immediately closed after the fire and most of the park was demolished. BuzzFeed Staff, Australia. . Marvel characters - Never produced Wonderpass and staff ID cards. The main attraction was its four water slides, particularly during the hot Adelaide summers. Far fewer know their real story. Henry VIII and were earning lots of money so they decided to close Strongline Engineering removed the attraction in September 2005 and. 09/03/04 - What do you think of Australia's Wonderland closing down? DECEMBER 18 2004The Wonderland Sign above the front gate was taken down and sold for $1,000 to a Junkyard in Londonderry. After this contract expired, the ride dropped the '7' from its name). Wonderland Sydney officially closed | Parkz - Theme Parks Wonderland Sydney was a theme park in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. However, it is still believed to be sitting in pieces in a paddock at the Malaysian theme park. It was built in 1980 and closed after a decade of operating. The content of this website is provided for information purposes only. Australia's oldest running coal-fired power station is about to close. Travel and Tourism (Lifestyle and Leisure), Inside the family succession drama threatening to change the K-pop industry forever. It had several attractions including the popular Gee-Wizz ride, flying boats, merry-go-rounds, shooting and archery galleries. March 12, 2005Ambulances were called to reports of a person fallen at the 'Space Probe'.On arrival ambulance officers found a male in his early 30s trapped on a platform inside the tower approximately 30 metres above the ground. During main operation of the ride, the ride spins so fast that the rider cars rise in the air, so the rider is horizontally parallel to the ground. Bounty's Revenge was dismantled and sent to Sunway Lagoon. The Demon is completly down but still on site. Are bills set to rise? The Bush Beast Roller Coaster . It remained open for almost nineteen years and was the premier theme park in New South Wales for much of its life, but was closed in 2004 after becoming unprofitable, The last lot of stors close on the 5th of January 2009. he closed down the monasteries because they were over powering Granted, it's the first time it's been published (what are the sources of the articles, by the way? At the time it was the largest open air amusement park in the southern hemisphere. Selling fun just not the Wonderland it used to be June 16 2004The yellow Bush Beast train was sitting at the top of the lift hill.Dragons Flight, Merry-Go-Round and Baby Bumpers were put in shipping containers and sent to 'Sunway Lagoon' Malaysia.Dragons Flight in the shipping container. Author: Kathy Mac Dermott The park was modeled heavily around Canada's Wonderland, a theme park located north of Toronto, with both parks being constructed by Taft Broadcasting, a company which also owned Hanna-Barbera. Quite an interesting couple of articles, on many fronts and confrims what many of us have been saying about the theme park industry being overall, quite strong. The sublime Irish gin which stole Rustys heart, Parallel roads which are streets apart in temperature. That changed over the years to include Botany . Visitors were told that the rides were being relocated to the remaining sections, so that they would be closer (as the rides were spaced apart). To improve your experience. Luna Park, Scarborough Beachopened in 1939 and closed after 33 years of operation. In the mid 1990s he said Wonderland was consistently attracting 1 million visitors a year. log in. "I think most people in Western Sydney formed an attachment with the place," Watts told BuzzFeed. So What The Heck Happened to Wonderland Eurasia? 19 Things Every Aussie Kid Will Remember About Wonderland - BuzzFeed The area would also see the opening of Eastern Creek Raceway in 1990 as the Sydney metropolitan area expanded to the west. After the Demon was down and out of the park the original Canadian company, who were contracted to pull it down, decided not to pay guy his exorbitant fee using the distance between the two countries as a safe haven. Jamberoo bucks trend You can post now and register later. Sydney's Wonderland is set to give our Queensland folk, a run for their money. This goes against everything the CEO said and what Sunway would like the general public to believe. Sunway Group, who managed Wonderland, blamed a multitude of factors for its closure including the September 11 attacks and the collapse of Ansett Australia. Mr Eddy said yesterday his park had just registered its best summer holiday period, and visitor numbers were soaring. August 2004All 14 Bush Beast and 10 beastie carriages where moved out to the maintenance area by one of the wonderland maintenance crew still working at wonderland after is closure.Who would've thought that they would ever see all 4 trains together?! Water park Magic Mountain in Glenelg opened opened in 1982 and closed its doors in 2004. June 2004A Heritage Order for the Bush Beast was submitted to Blacktown Council. Pictured is the Big Dipper roller-coaster that was closed after only a year of operation in 1995 after noise complaints by . Western Sydney resident Chris Watts spent 19 years living a short drive from amusement park Wonderland. 'Funnel Web' opened in 1985, and removed in 1990. Other proposals just never progressed beyond the drawing board, including the $485million Studio City proposal for Melbourne's Docklands and the canning of Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede planned for Surfers Paradise. November 30, 2004They started removing The Demon Station. Built in 1985 in Sydney's west, it was a good enough local substitute for . It hadfamous waterslides that twisted across each other, and other rides such as dodgem cars, mini golf, a carousel, an alligator-themed roller- coaster and a video game arcade. "It's a real disappointment to see an asset of Sydney go like that because of a zoning change out of nowhere," he says. By AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/wonderland-to-close/136728, Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, These engineers break their silenceafterdecade of criticism over2011 Queensland flood handling, Tens of thousands of pigs and buffalo pegged for mass culls in Kakadu, in bid to curb feral animals, With Russian forces closing, Svyat rolled the dice in the last days before Bakhmut fell, Anna called police to report an assault, but it backfired and she lost her home, Home ownership remains in fantasy territory for many. During his exploration, Mr Van Gerwen discovered remnants of rides and pieces of signage that made up the Wonderland fun. An "extravagant" project. Similar to a scaled-down Chair-O-Planes, riders were instead seated in two-seater 'flying boats'. The Great Balloon Race was dismantled and taken off site by its new owner. Desolation Alley - Sydney's closed amusement parks Wonderlands 400 employees would get their full entitlements and help to find new jobs.. "It was basically a 'wear-out' process," he says. Go here for more 90s and 00s nostalgia. 12 February 2004ING Industrial Fund teamed up with The PacLib Group to buy wonderland.Hartford Lane Pty Ltd entered into a Put and Call Option Deed with Paclib Industrial Pty Ltd to dispose off Wonderland Sydney, the land measuring 58.87 hectares (Lot 11, Plan 1025320) and buildings, structures and theme park rides thereon for a total of $52.5 million AUD, excluding Goods and Services Tax, paying $10 million at exchange and the balance payable on settlement in January 2005.Hartford Lane Pty Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eastern Glory Enterprises Ltd.Hartford being the Trustee of Sunway Australia Unit Trust , the registered owner of the Property. "Overall the theme park industry is in great shape," he says. Given the current name after being relocated to Transylvania, following the closure of Little Wonders Land/Hanna-Barbera Land. The four cars would be pulled to the top of a 30-metre tower, then released. ``I don't understand (Wonderland) suggesting SARS is to blame. The History and Myths of Disney's Skyway - AllEars.Net Before Jurassic Park, Paradise Gardens operated during the 1970s alongside the Hawkesbury River at Cattai. The hit did come from SARS and whatnot, but only because of the lack of investment to make the difference with domestic guests as was appropriately done on the Gold Coast. In 1995 Wonderland installed what was to become its new flagship attraction, the Space Probe a Giant Drop developed by Intamin that cost almost $10 million. 3.8 . The land value has put the viability of the site for development way ahead of it being used as a theme park." Date: 18/02/2004 Sonfena demolitions was given the go ahead to finish and complete a non recoverable demolition on the intire park as quickly as possibal, the only areas they where instructed not to touch was the fenced off area around the Zodiac, Space Probe. Before Werribee Zoo, visitors to Ashtons Bacchus Marsh drove through a safari park where lions would latch their paws onto their cars. ``But in the longer term it's going to have a negative impact on the industry. DECEMBER 2004The Electricity to the park was turned off in the main high voltage switch room.Demolition of the park starts.DECEMBER 2, 2004They started removing The Demon Track.