Wonderland Sydney's relegation this week to the theme park scrap heap highlights just how tough the business of selling fun has become. The Demon lives on after Sydney Wonderland's untimely demise 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. Only one ride, Skyrider which was the former cable car at the Sydney Showgrounds, was added between the 1997 takeover and the park's closure. On several occasions in the period between the park's closure and its demolition, he jumped its fence and roamed the abandoned acreage. 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. Leisureland Fair The Real Reasons for Wonderland's Closure, Dreamworld announces Wave Swinger, Dreamland (DreamWorks retheme) and new coasters. With whispers of a future Wonderland in Sydney, it begs the question whether some of these rides may one day find themselves coming back to Australia or counterparts built to pay homage to the original attractions that made Wonderland a historic piece of nostalgia. The heartbroken family of Matthew Eakin, who died on the K2 in Pakistan, has made a desperate plea for help to retrieve his body. The budget supermarket chain has done it again, sparking a frenzy over its latest Special Buys just in time for the holidays. Pasted as rich text. Despite the ride being 23 years old, it was sold again in 2011 to Wonderla in India where it took on its fourth name, Recoil and is still operational to this day. [9], The entry way signage at the time of closure, featuring Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk, was sold to a junkyard in Londonderry in Sydney's north west where it remains today.[10]. It is now the site of the Forest Hill police station. Balnaves dismisses claims that international events including September 11 and SARS drove Wonderland to the wall as "excuses". Wonderland closed 10 years ago today : ( : r/australia The park opened in 1970 and closed by 1980, it was run by the Ashton family, of Ashtons Circus fame. Dimly lit, hard-to-watch Disney trailer is further proof Hollywood has embraced the dark side, From Aussie politics to catering funerals: Here are 10 new books to check out in March, Introducing the worlds smartest suitcases. Sega World, which was on Sydneys Darling Harbour, was a nod to the Sega gaming franchise, primarily Sonic the Hedgehog. Snowy River Rampage 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. The area would also see the opening of Eastern Creek Raceway in 1990 as the Sydney metropolitan area expanded to the west. September 2004Bush Beast and Beastie carriages where moved from the maintenance area, out to the back paddock behind Minchinbury reservoirBush Beasts Yellow PTC Train, minus two cars, under the cover of the stables in the back paddock behind Minchinbury reservoir. This goes against everything the CEO said and what Sunway would like the general public to believe. The Great Balloon Race was dismantled and taken off site by its new owner. 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. Given the current name after being relocated to Transylvania, following the closure of Little Wonders Land/Hanna-Barbera Land. The Demon is completly down but still on site. But other operators and analysts place the blame closer to home. This week Wonderland's chief executive Stephen Galbraith cited a litany of reasons for the park's demise, including Asian bird flu, SARS and the collapse of HIH. 29 / 37. International Theme Park Pty. Author: Kathy Mac Dermott The most notable attractions included The Demon, The Beastie, The Bush Beast and the Snowy River Rampage. The developers sought to provide an alternative to the troubled Luna Park Sydney, which had opened and closed multiple times in its recent history. Among the rides to find new homes was The Demon, which served as Wonderland's unofficial flagship attraction for more than a decade. August 22, 2005Demolition is allowed to continue only in Gold Rush, this is because Probe and Zodaic have not been removed. Australia's Wonderland expanded, and rebranded as Wonderland Sydney it featured an all-new water park known as 'The Beach', which first opened in 1988. Control Switches - other than operator's console, New entrance to carpark - Concept Art - 2003, Proposed Colour Design - Retail Outlet - 2003, The Batty Chicken Proposed Colour Design - 2003, Australia's Wonderland 1985 Limited Edition Souvenir Book, Australia's Wonderland Facts Sheet - 1997, ATTENTION ALL STAFF - Feb 4. Wonderland was designed in the late 1970s. There's not too many attractions you can add that will ultimately effect this demographic. Devastating reason Tanya Plibersek abandoned leadership plans, The Moon is on track to get its very own timezone, Cocaine valued at a staggering billion dollars seized in Australias biggest drug bust, Greens want twice as many people taxed twice as hard on super, Bee populations are shrinking, but the buzz about robot bees to the rescue is premature, PM joins Pride marchers on Sydney Harbour Bridge, Tony Burke: Super account tax changes vital to raise additional revenue, Judge ponders limits on FTX fraud suspect Sam Bankman-Frieds phone and laptop, Hollywood mourns gruff, tough and troubled action star Tom Sizemore, dead at 61, Hong Kong court convicts dissident trio for marking date of Tiananmen massacre, King Charles sacred coronation oil blessed in Jerusalem. Jim Eddy, who runs Jamberoo Recreation Park, does not buy Wonderland's argument and says business could not be better. The parks flagship ride was The Bush Beast which was the largest wooden roller coaster in Australia at the time. People are not travelling overseas and Macquarie Leisure has been able to tap into this to bolster its domestic visits. Publication: Illawarra Mercury I know there is not really any new info as such in the articles (as I said I was not expecting any of you to be surprised) but as you said Richard it is the first time this angle has been published, unfortunately. Started Friday at 03:54 AM, By On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. close its doors. A former employee made a list of what happened to some of the rides. We couldnt get the smiles off our faces, he said of the visit. Date: 18/02/2004 Date: 21/02/2004 log in. Australia's oldest running coal-fired power station is about to close. Wonderland Abandoned: The Swift Fall of "Europe's Biggest Theme Park" Bullens African Lion Safari in Rockbank also operated during this time and, much like Ashtons,it had had lions, tigers, bears, elephants and giraffes. This decision was taken in view of persistent losses incurred and difficult market conditions. Before Werribee Zoo, visitors to Ashtons Bacchus Marsh drove through a safari park where lions would latch their paws onto their cars. It is now the site of the Forest Hill police station. Closed in 1998. The country's remaining theme parks of Dreamworld, Movie World and Sea World work because of their clustering on the Gold Coast. The park was sold in 1997 to the Kuala Lumpur, based Sunway Group. "It was basically a 'wear-out' process," he says. [17][18], Property developer, and former employee of Wonderland Sydney, Ammar Khan, announced plans to develop a new amusement, entertainment and retail attraction to be named Sydneys Wonderland in Western Sydney and has been seeking financial backing for the relaunch since 2009. 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. With China's rise and democracy's decline, what will the global order look like in 2050? Wonderland Sydney is set to be operating within 3 to 5 years time. 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. Something for everyone interested in hair, makeup, style, and body positivity. Relocated from, This page was last edited on 6 February 2023, at 00:58. ``I'm saddened by (the closure) because I don't like it to be happening to the industry," he said. 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. A look back at Australia's forgotten theme parks - The New Daily Watts, 42, and friends have built an online community to celebrate Wonderland, with the Wonderland History website and a Facebook group. on top of a roller coaster, and passengers had to get off on foot. Several rides were closed in 2002 due to the reduction in operational area of the park. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. All times AEDT (GMT +11). Wobbies World in Melbournes east opened in 1970 and closed in 1999. In 2017, amateur filmmaker Phil Van Gerwen decided to take a trip down memory lane, and venture to the site where rides have been dumped following the parks demise. Technology has changed so drastically between decades, he said. A new 'veloway' is welcome news for Melbourne's cyclists. Firstly I'd like to say that this is my first post here at themeparkinsider, and that I too am an employee at Wonderland Sydney. And my friend wanted to take a drone, so we went out again this month.. Lots of money, Jewellery and Mobile phones.Most of the rides still on site where removed. Some wouldn't survive. Another attraction named 'The Outback Woolshed' was added in 1995, along with an -la-carte-style restaurant. Serendipity Fun Park in Devonport opened in 1988, but closed only 16 months later, after facing financialproblems. Upload or insert images from URL. You can post now and register later. To improve your experience. There was a miniature golf course called Top Cat's Putt Putt Park; prior to the installation of Fred Flintstone's Splashdown there was a putting course known as Old McScrappy's Golfing Farm. 2001-02: 79,600. ``I don't understand (Wonderland) suggesting SARS is to blame. Keep up with the latest daily buzz with the BuzzFeed Daily newsletter! Wonderland Online Shutting Down After 10 Years of Service 01/01/92 - Bursting At The Themes; . "It was a strange feeling to see a place I had loved so much reduced to such a decrepit level of decay and destruction.". A Vekoma spokeswoman told nine.com.au that due to the Boomerangs' "thrill factor and a small footprint" it was snapped up by Alabama Splash Adventure in the US where it operated as the Zoomerang for seven years. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. The owners of'HMS Endeavor' (beleved to be Sunway) where given access to the site and started started dismantling the ride.HMS Endeavor was then moved out to the back paddock. April 28, 2004"Wonderland IS CLOSED" sgin in the carpark. Leisureland Fair was in Langwarrin, in Melbournes south-east, and operated from 1984 to 1992. "There is always something fascinating about abandoned places," Watts said. Owners say the threat of terrorism, coupled with skyrocketing insurance premiums, SARS and the Asian bird flu have all taken their toll on the number of visitors to the park. Adventure Parc, Tamborine Mountain; Amazons Aquatic Adventureland, Jindalee - closed down in 2001, the site has since become Centenary Quays, a gated community Australia's Wonderland also claimed that it was the largest wooden rollercoaster in the Southern Hemisphere. A large inverting, 'Fred Flintstone's Splashdown' opened 1994. The park opened in 1991 and closed in 1998. [26] While Khan does not have a site for the Park he plans that it would occupy a site around 300 acres in and around Eastern Creek or towards Hoxton Park. The site itself has since been turned into Interchange Park, an industrial estate, where remnants of the park remain in the surrounding bushland. Cox says Wonderland also suffered because of its Eastern Creek location. 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. The main attraction was its four water slides, particularly during the hot Adelaide summers. 1.0 3.0 5.0. The park had a satisfactory couple of months, but for all their rides and investment they couldn't make very much of a profit. 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. Cartoon Network Characters To Debut at Wonderland Sydney All rights reserved. Removed in 2000. Richard - the source, author and date for each article are written underneath each of the bold headlines. Australia's forgotten theme parks hold unforgettable memories for visitors. Amidst record attendance set as a result of the announcement of the closure, Wonderland says goodbye. 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. News 4; More attractions at Wonderland Sydney Top rated experiences at Wonderland Sydney. Crowd pleasers 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. 'Funnel Web' opened in 1985, and removed in 1990. However, Taft only had a minority stake in Australia's Wonderland and sold their stake to other Australian investors. "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. Successive inconveniences and high costs caused Wonderland Eurasia to . November 30, 2004They started removing The Demon Station. One of the pioneers of Wonderland and now chairman of Macquarie Leisure, Neil Balnaves, said the park's vendor, Sunway City Berhad, had not invested any money into the complex during its eight years of ownership. 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. The fact of the matter is that the place NEVER made a profit, even going back into the 80's and 90's. It remained open for almost nineteen years and was. 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. Where Alice in Wonderland, Now 150 Years Old, Came From Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe was so impressed with the honesty of a liquor he tasted while working in Dublin he bought shares in the company. Similar to a scaled-down Chair-O-Planes, riders were instead seated in two-seater 'flying boats'. Built in 1985 in Sydney's west, it was a good enough local substitute for . DECEMBER 15, 2004The Snower River Rampage Station, Conveyor and Plant room where destroyed. Many rides closed, the rest lacking quality, incomplete landscaping in places, and Lightspeed breaks down and has people evaced from the brake run. The Real Reasons for Wonderland's Closure - Parkz But will it be safer for women? mini golf, ice cream kiosk and a miniature railway. Wonderland is closed forever! Florida-based manager David Bakas has researched some of the top theme parks across the world while developing the master plan that includes all the attractions, resort hotels, shopping precinct and water park. Paclib Industrial Pty Ltd a special purpose vehicle with a paid-up share capital of A$2.00. June 2004A Heritage Order for the Bush Beast was submitted to Blacktown Council. Id only been to Wonderland once before as a kid and I can barely remember it, he told news.com.au. Badgerys Creek is ideal but the sites are still under investigation, he said. It was put into voluntary liquidation in 1934, with its rides dismantled and sent to Luna Park in Sydney. The park featured alarge lake with an island, steam train, go-karts and merry-go-round. Now, new images show how the theme park was left to rot. Go here for more 90s and 00s nostalgia. Two years earlier, the Skyway had closed as construction began on the three massive E-Ticket attractions - The Matterhorn Bobsleds, The Submarine Voyage, and the Disneyland Monorail - that would herald the park's famed "second opening day." When that day came in '59, the Skyway had been rerouted also that it travelled THROUGH the . "Everyone is not doing as well as they were because the fall in international tourists has dented theme park revenues," forensic valuer Brian Cox says. The official shutdown schedule is as follows: "At a time when international tourists want to do Cape York to Melbourne in one day, Wonderland was too far out of Sydney," he says.

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