55-607: The Big Top (also known as the Big Top Auditorium and The Arena ; commonly known as Big Top Sydney ) is a multi-purpose entertainment venue located within Luna Park Sydney . Opening in 2004, the venue was a part of the amusement park’s 2003 redevelopment plan. It has a capacity of nearly 3,000, making it one of Sydney’s largest mid-sized venues. It has housed notable events such as: the 2005 MTV Australia Video Music Awards , Come Together Music Festival and
110-420: A 20-year lease on 11 September 1935, forming Luna Park (NSW) Limited. The rides from Glenelg were dismantled and transported to Sydney over a three-month period - an elaborate process undertaken by Stuart Brothers under the direction of David Atkins, Ted Hopkins and Arthur Barton. Construction of the park employed almost 1,000 engineers, structural workers, fitters, and artists. Architectural plans and drawings of
165-441: A brief time as Harbourside Amusement Park before the name was reverted. 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
220-488: A brilliant feat of engineering with imagination, created and maintained by men. Sydney must acknowledge the importance of Luna Park. To lose it now would be a tragedy. On 16 April 1979, a steel runner came loose on the Big Dipper, halting one train and leading to a collision with another. Thirteen people were injured. On 9 June 1979, the park's Ghost Train burnt down during operation. The fire quickly destroyed
275-634: A filming location for several movies and television shows. 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 buildings on the site are also listed on the (now defunct) Register of the National Estate and the New South Wales State Heritage Register. The park
330-589: A free concert headlined by Mental As Anything . As a result, the Face was an item of national heritage by the National Trust of Australia and the rest of the park was given a 'recorded' classification. Australian Amusements Associates won the tender in September 1980, and took over administration of the site in early June 1981. Much of the original park was then either demolished or sold off, including
385-494: A preferred option for Luna Park's future use, determined in consultation with residents, the general public and other stakeholders. It sought to preserve Luna Park's amusement park character while introducing new uses to improve its viability and accordance with the parameters in the Luna Park Site Amendment Act 1997. There was also grassroots community support for the park's reopening; one example of this
440-517: A short-lived park mascot, "Luna Bear - the Space Age Koala." In 1973, Martin Sharp and Peter Kingston undertook repainting works on the park in a pop art style. The face was repainted with a new expression and a clown-like mask, offset by strong primary colours. Sharp would turn out to play a major role in the park's history in the decades to come. By 1975, Luna Park was operating on
495-538: A successful opening season, the park closed down for the winter months so that rides and attractions could be overhauled and repainted, and new ones could be added. In 1936, the North Sydney Olympic Pool was also opened on an adjacent site. During World War II , Luna Park was a magnet for servicemen, many of whom were either treating their girlfriends to a night out or looking to meet someone. The influx of servicemen also drew sex workers to
550-528: A week-to-week lease with plans to develop the Lavender Bay foreshores as a "Tivoli Gardens". When the park's lease expired that same year, the directors went into negotiation with the New South Wales government to renew it. However, when Neville Wran became Premier in 1976 the negotiations ground to a halt, and the park was allowed to continue operating. In 1977, an exhibition was held at
605-545: A year, after no efforts had been made to repair and reopen Luna Park, and several submissions hade been made to replace most or all of the amusement park with high-rise apartment blocks and hotels, the New South Wales State Government issued an ultimatum to the company: open Luna Park by 1 June 1990, or lose the lease. Despite this ultimatum, Luna Park Investments did little to prepare the site. Rides were moved around, repainted, and renamed to give
SECTION 10
#1732790087239660-538: Is a heritage-listed amusement park located at 1 Olympic Drive, Milsons Point , New South Wales , Australia, on the northern shore of Sydney Harbour . The amusement park is owned by the Luna Park Reserve Trust, an agency of the Government of New South Wales . It is one of Sydney's most famous landmarks and has had a significant impact on culture through the years, including being featured as
715-562: The 2013 Sydney Darts Masters . The venue was originally proposed in 1999 by Metro Edgley Pty Ltd. Known as Luna Circus, the building was proposed as a venue for circus acts and a possible site for a permanent Cirque du Soleil show. Plans were underway to begin construction in 2000, opening in 2001. However, the proposal was not approved by the North Sydney Council until December 2002. Construction began in February 2003 and
770-476: The Art Gallery of New South Wales entitled Fairground Arts and Novelties , highlighting many important aspects of Luna Park. Meanwhile, Sharp and Kingston, as well as Richard Liney and Garry Shead , were involved in many major redesigns and artwork installations throughout the park. Sharp was quoted as saying: It took us a while to realise that Luna Park was an artwork in itself, a city state of illusion,
825-473: 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. The Cammeraygal people are the traditional owners of
880-716: The Lower North Shore of Sydney , New South Wales , Australia . The traditional lands of the Cammeraygal people are now contained within much of the North Sydney , Willoughby , Mosman , Manly and Warringah local government areas . The Cammeraygal people lived in the area until the 1820s and are recorded as being in the northern parts of the Sydney region for approximately 5,800 years. The suburb of Cammeray and Cammeraygal High School , located in
935-460: The North Sydney area, having lived there for at least 5,000 years. After the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, a block of land between Lavender Bay and Careening Cove was granted by colonial authorities to a private soldier named Robert Ryan. This land passed down via surveyor-general Charles Grimes to politician Robert Campbell by 1805, with James Milson later settling there in
990-573: The "Harbourside Amusement Park" in April 1982. The change in name was caused by a dispute between the current and previous owners, preventing the use of the Luna Park name until August of that year. Over the next six years, the Face was removed from over the entry gates on two occasions, the owners of Harbourside were involved in two disputes with the Department of Public Works and one director
1045-430: The 1820s. In 1830, Jamaican ex-convict Billy Blue commenced the first ferry service across Sydney Harbour . By 1837, a regular wharf and waterman's service was operating from the site now known as Milsons Point. A regular vehicular ferry was operating by 1860, joined by a tram line to North Sydney in 1886. The North Shore railway line opened in 1890, and was extended to Milsons Point in 1893. The first Luna Park
1100-460: The Big Dipper rollercoaster (installed in 1995) was sold to Dreamworld in Queensland. The redevelopment and restoration of the park was conducted over a 14-month period between 2003 and 2004. The rides were removed, restored, and in some cases upgraded to comply with modern safety standards. The Crystal Palace was redesigned with several modular function rooms, the largest of which took up
1155-565: The Big Dipper, Tumble Bug, Turkey Trot, Barrels of Fun and the River Caves. Later that year, the Luna Park Site Act was passed, meaning Luna Park Holdings had to vacate the site. Everything that remained - with the exception of the Face, Crystal Palace, and Coney Island - was bulldozed and burnt. The park was then rebuilt by Australian Amusements, following design advice from Texas-based LARC International. It reopened as
SECTION 20
#17327900872391210-435: The Luna Park Site Act 1990 was gazetted , although the act had been used prior to this to terminate Harbourside's lease and establish the Luna Park Reserve Trust. The Act was intended to protect the site of the park, dedicating it for amusement and public recreation. In 1991, the first two stages of the three-stage redevelopment and restoration plan for Luna Park was given the green light, with $ 25 million granted by
1265-533: The Open Space and Heritage Fund towards the project. The third stage, involving the demolition of sections of the old North Shore railway line (which had been in use as a holding area for trains outside peak hour since 1932), construction of parkland, an amphitheatre, art gallery, and museum, was not approved. In 1992, the Trust commissioned Godden Mackay heritage consultants to prepare a Conservation Plan for
1320-510: The Sydney Harbour Bridge. These sorts of complaints would turn out to be a theme throughout the park's history. On 4 October 1935, Luna Park Sydney was officially opened to immediate success. The park's signature entrance face, designed by Rupert Browne, was placed between two Art Deco -style towers with spires imitating New York's Chrysler Building . The Big Dipper roller coaster was an instantly popular attraction. After
1375-542: The appearance that the new owners were trying to make an effort. The directors kept putting forward excuses to try to gain an extension, even declaring a trade union ban on their own site. Four days after the government ultimatum passed, the lease was terminated and the Luna Park Reserve Trust was established. Soon after this, the National Heritage Trust added several buildings on the site to its list of protected structures. On 12 October 1990,
1430-563: The area and large-scale brawls were a common occurrence, usually between Australian home defence troops and American sailors on shore leave . As non-essential uses of electricity were curtailed in wartime, the park's neon lights were disconnected and many ride facades were dimmed. The park's external lights were also 'browned out' in case of a Japanese sneak attack on Sydney. In 1950, the Phillips brothers were bought out by Atkins & Hopkins. Numerous changes and additions were made over
1485-531: The blaze was in fact deliberately lit by associates of Abe Saffron in an attempt to gain control of the park site. The NSW government called for tenders for the site's development at the end of July 1979. and again in March 1980. Meanwhile, a group named "Friends of Luna Park" was formed by impassioned community members. A "Save Luna Park" protest marched from the Opera House to the Face, followed by
1540-498: The condition that the Trust abided by strict noise control guidelines and covered the cost of soundproofing for any residents affected by excessive noise. In addition, North Sydney Council imposed a series of times when the roller coaster could not operate. Luna Park reopened in January 1995. In the months that followed, the park was affected by poor weather conditions, causing lower than predicted attendance. Legal claims against
1595-408: The decision was made to continue operation as an amusement park. Over the next few years, the new managers scrapped several of the old rides and replacing them with new, American-designed thrill rides. After consultation with Hanna-Barbera , Luna Park's slogan was temporarily changed from "Just for Fun" to "The Place Where Happiness Is" . Another result of the consultation was the creation of
1650-533: The entire lower floor. A 2,000 seat multipurpose auditorium, the Big Top , was constructed. On 4 April 2004, the park reopened once again and has remained open ever since. Despite rain and low temperatures, several thousand people attended the opening day, and an accumulated attendance figure of 200,000 was reached within two months. Legal action against the park by a group of seven Milsons Point residents and one developer began again in April 2005. The claim
1705-460: The installation of the Wild Mouse roller coaster and the hiring of silhouette artist S. John Ross . Hopkins retired in 1969 and sold the remaining six years of the park's lease to World Trade Centre Pty Ltd. Winter closures were abandoned under this new management, meaning there was no opportunity to carry out regular maintenance works on the rides. Barton also retired in 1970, the last of
Big Top Sydney - Misplaced Pages Continue
1760-631: The next few years, as the two men travelled the world to bring back new concepts from amusement parks in the Netherlands, the United States, Germany and Britain. A version of The Rotor - a spinning drum that uses centrifugal force to pin guests to the sides, developed by Professor Ernst Hoffmeister in Germany - was constructed and installed, and became the stage of many stunts. It remains in place today. Barton also redesigned and reconstructed
1815-427: The operation of the park and roller coaster were filed by some local residents and supported by business figures whose tenders for the redevelopment had not been accepted. The newly elected Carr government put the park's long-term viability in doubt; first removing the government guarantee of a $ 14 million loan to the trust, then dissolving the trust's board of directors and appointing an administrator. The park
1870-567: The park from this era are held at the State Library of New South Wales . There were noise complaints and protests from North Shore residents against the park's construction as early as April 1935, before it had even opened. Members of a "Parks and Playgrounds Movement" were quoted as saying the park was the result of "a deplorable lack of aesthetic taste", and akin to "Coney Island under the Tower of London" - as in, not worthy of proximity to
1925-459: The park's entrance face, which had begun to sag and distort. The new design was based on illustrations of Old King Cole , and became the inspiration for all future variants. Atkins' passing in 1957 saw Hopkins become the park's manager. Meanwhile, the rise of television and car culture throughout the 1960s saw the park facing increased competition. Several initiatives were attempted to maintain public interest throughout this era, including
1980-458: The park's original showmen. Soon after this, the new owners applied to construct a $ 50 million international trade centre on the Luna Park site, consisting of seven high-rise buildings, 929,000 square metres (10,000,000 sq ft) of exhibition space, and a heliport. However, this plan was rejected by the Government of New South Wales . After a reshuffle within the consortium,
2035-447: The park, instead of going towards the ongoing operation and maintenance of Luna Park's facilities. Cammeraygal The Cammeraygal , variously spelled as Cam-mer-ray-gal , Gamaraigal , Kameraigal , Cameragal and several other variations, are one clan of the 29 Darug tribes who are united by a common language , strong ties of kinship and survived as skilled hunter–fisher–gatherers in family groups or clans that inhabited
2090-527: The plan, each of which in turn would require community consultation. The development eventually began in 2003. During the long decision-making and approval process, Luna Park was permitted to operate for several charity-organised events, including for Variety Club and the Spastic Centre . The park was also allowed to operate on selected weekends and school holidays in late 2000 and early 2001, under strict, court-appointed conditions. In July 2001,
2145-419: The reconstruction, there was vocal opposition from a number of nearby residents and companies,on a variety of issues. The main points of opposition were the noise levels of the park after opening, and the installation of a 40-metre (130 ft) tall steel roller coaster to be named the Big Dipper after the original. The Environmental Protection Authority approved the construction of the new Big Dipper on
2200-674: The residents instead claiming breaches of the Trade Practices Act . Stating that they had been misled as to the types of amusement ride that were located in the Maloney's Corner area, the residents and developer attempted to claim over $ 20 million in damages, and demanded the relocation or permanent closure of the Ranger and Spider rides. The case was dismissed by the Supreme Court of New South Wales on 6 February 2009, with
2255-486: The results of the tendering process were made public. Metro Edgley Group (consisting of Metro Edgley, Multiplex Facilities Management, and a group of private investors) was awarded the tender. Their proposal intended for most of the rides to stay, but called for the Big Dipper to be replaced with a multipurpose concert venue, and asked to redevelop the Crystal Palace as a function centre. A Master Plan for
Big Top Sydney - Misplaced Pages Continue
2310-479: The ride, although it was contained before spreading to the nearby Big Dipper and River Caves. Searches of the charred rubble revealed the bodies of seven people: John Godson and his two children, Damien and Craig, and four Waverley College students, Jonathan Billings, Richard Carroll, Michael Johnson, and Seamus Rahilly. The park was immediately shut down. Sydney newspapers and the NSW Police reported at
2365-580: The site was prepared in 1999, which included a Heritage Report prepared by Godden Mackay Logan. Further consultation with North Sydney Council brought the development to a standstill, with the Council and the directors of Metro Edgley clashing over several aspects of the proposed redevelopment. In January 2002 the Minister for Planning approved a development application for the site. On top of this, specific applications had to be lodged for each element of
2420-472: The site. The plans were approved by North Sydney Council in August 1992, with Ted Hopkins also supporting the plans shown to him. Work began in January 1993, with the Face being moved back to its place over the entry gate. An 'army' of tradesmen and artists worked for six months on the restoration of the park's buildings, and on the repair of numerous artworks, including several of Barton's murals. During
2475-591: The supervising Justice ruling that the development applications submitted by the park had not been "misleading or deceptive", as claimed. On 1 January 2007, a staff member working on the Golden Way Amusements-owned Speed (hired for the Christmas holidays) was struck in the head by the armature while the ride was in motion. The employee was taken to hospital and placed in intensive care. In October 2007, Multiplex announced that it
2530-408: The time that the fire was caused by an electrical fault. A contemporaneous coronial inquest was unable to establish the cause of the fire, but concluded that Luna Park's managers and operators had failed in their duty of care towards the park's patrons. Investigations led by Sharp in future decades, backed up with the testimony of multiple eyewitnesses and several NSW police officers, would determine
2585-715: Was completed in December. It was built on the site of the former Ghost Train. An opening celebration concert was held 2 April 2004. It was hosted by Simon Burke and featured performances by Caroline O'Connor , Marina Prior and David Campbell . The first official event held at the venue was a performance of Sunset Boulevard (featuring Judi Connelli and Michael Cormick ) on 3 April 2004. Australian bands that have performed at Luna Park include INXS in '82, Silverchair in '97, Jet (at Big Top) in '09, Sick Puppies (at Big Top) in '07, and Parkway Drive (at Big Top) in '09. Luna Park Sydney Luna Park Sydney
2640-470: Was completed, North Sydney Council opened up applications for tenders to develop the site. At the same time, the owners of Luna Park Glenelg - Herman Phillips, his brothers and A. A. Abrahams - happened to be searching for a new location to establish the park due to difficulties with their local council and residents. Phillips and his associates won the tender for the North Sydney site and began
2695-536: 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 a new one was constructed, which operated for
2750-563: Was forced to close again on 14 February 1996. In 1997 the Department of Land & Water Conservation (DLWC) engaged the Urban Design Advisory Service (UDAS) to investigate urban design and land use options for the future use of Luna Park. The Luna Park Plan of Management was prepared by the New South Wales government in 1998 to guide the future management of the Luna Park Reserve. This plan identified
2805-498: Was intending to sell the lease to one of the undeveloped sections of Luna Park. The section of land, advertised for approximately $ 7 million, had initially been leased from the NSW Government for $ 1, on the condition that any profit made from property built on the site was invested in the amusement park. There were concerns that the money will be used to allow Multiplex to recoup the financial outlay made when redeveloping
SECTION 50
#17327900872392860-619: Was of noise nuisance from the amusement rides, particularly those in Maloney's Corner . The case was defeated when legislation was passed by the New South Wales government protecting Luna Park from such claims, although it was later revealed that these laws may have been influenced by court documents leaked to then-Tourism, Sport, and Recreation minister Sandra Nori by two Luna Park executives. The executives were charged with contempt of court in August 2007. A new case began in June 2007, with
2915-572: Was opened at Coney Island , New York in 1903. The first Luna Park in Australia opened in St Kilda , Melbourne in 1912, followed by Luna Park Glenelg in Adelaide in 1930. From 1924 onwards, the future site of Luna Park Sydney was used extensively by Dorman Long to fabricate and assemble steel components for the Sydney Harbour Bridge , which officially opened in 1932. Once the bridge
2970-647: Was the collection of a 5,000 signature petition by a pair of high school students. In June 1997, the New South Wales government presented four development proposals to the public. After a month of public viewing and comment, a 'diverse-use' plan, encompassing rides and amusements, restaurants, cafés, and function capacity was announced as the winning plan. In February 1998, the NSW Department of Public Works and Services called for proposals to redevelop Luna Park, and 20 proposals were submitted, with eight selected for further consideration. In July 1999,
3025-563: Was the subject of an inquiry by the Corporate Affairs Commission. Reports from independent engineers were then presented stating that several rides in the park had to be shut down for "renovations and repairs". The park closed again in 1988, and the entrance face was re-located to storage owned by the Powerhouse Museum . Harbourside's lease was then transferred to Luna Park Investments Pty Ltd. With
#238761