Luna Park Sydney
The Face, Luna Park's main entrance | |
Interactive map of Luna Park Sydney | |
| Location | 1 Olympic Drive, Milsons Point, New South Wales, Australia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 33°50′51″S 151°12′36″E / 33.8476°S 151.2100°E |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | 4 October 1935 |
| Owner | Luna Park Reserve Trust |
| Operated by | Oscars Group |
| General manager | John Hughes |
| Slogan | Just For Fun! |
| Operating season | Year round |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 23 |
| Roller coasters | 4 |
| Website | www |
| Luna Park Precinct | |
|---|---|
Location of Luna Park Precinct in inner Sydney | |
| Coordinates | 33°50′51″S 151°12′36″E / 33.8476°S 151.2100°E |
| Built | 1935– |
| Architect |
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| Owner | Luna Park Reserve Trust |
| Official name | Luna Park Precinct; Entrance Face and Towers; Crystal Palace; Coney Island; Alfred Street Entrance; Wild Mouse; Sandstone cliff; |
| Type | State heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 5 March 2010 |
| Reference no. | 1811 |
| Type | Funfair |
| Category | Recreation and Entertainment |
| Builders |
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Luna Park Sydney is a heritage-listed amusement park located in Milsons Point, New South Wales, Australia, on the northern shore of Sydney Harbour. It is one of Sydney's most famous landmarks and has had a significant impact on culture through the years, including being featured as a filming location for several movies and television shows.
The site is owned by the Luna Park Reserve Trust, an agency of the Government of New South Wales, and the amusement park is operated by hospitality company Oscars Group. It is protected by government legislation, namely the Luna Park Site Act 1990, which specifically protects the site and sets it aside for the purpose of an amusement park. Several of the park's buildings and rides are also listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register and the (now defunct) Register of the National Estate.
The park was constructed during 1935, approximately 600 metres (2,000 ft) from the northern approaches of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It was an extremely popular attraction during World War II and the post-war period. The park suddenly closed in mid-1979 after the Ghost Train fire which killed six children and one adult. Most of the park was demolished and new rides installed, reopening in 1982. From April to August of that year, the park operated under the name Harbourside Amusement Park. The park was closed again in 1988 as an independent engineering inspection determined that several rides needed urgent repair. The owners failed to repair and reopen the park before a Government of New South Wales deadline, and ownership was passed to a new body.
The park reopened in 1995, but closed yet again within thirteen months due to noise complaints about the Big Dipper rollercoaster from local residents, which led to reduced hours and a drop in attendance that made the park unsustainable to run. Luna Park opened only sporadically for the next nine years, including for special charity events and as a filming location. After another redevelopment, it reopened in 2004 and has continued operating ever since.