Luna Park Sydney

History

The 1901 Pan-American Exposition, a World’s Fair held in Buffalo, New York, United States, from May to November 1901, inspired the first Luna Park in Coney Island, which helped set in motion a frenzy in building amusement parks. The park’s creators, Frederic Thompson and Elmer “Skip” Dundy, created a wildly successful ride called “A Trip To The Moon”, at the Pan-American Exposition. The name of the winged spacecraft (which was not a rocket, but flapped its wings) was Luna, the Latin word for the moon. At the invitation of Steeplechase owner Harry George Tilyou, Thompson and Dundy moved their show to Steeplechase Park, an amusement park at Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City, for the 1902 season after the Pan-American Exposition closed. At the end of that season, the partners obtained a long-term lease for the site of an older amusement park, Sea Lion Park, and rebuilt it as Luna Park, the second major amusement park in Coney Island. Although the two partners claimed that Dundy suggested the park be named after his sister in Des Moines, Luna Dundy Newman, it was probably named for the spaceship of their successful ride. The architecture was quite fanciful, with thousands of electric lamps on the outside of the buildings at a time when electrification was still a novelty.

That first Luna Park operated from 1903 to 1944, and established a link between the two names – Luna Park and Coney Island – that still exists today. Like their White City Amusement Park cousins, a typical Luna Park featured a shoot-the-chutes and lagoon, a roller coaster (usually a figure eight or a mountain railway), a midway, a Ferris wheel, games, and a pavilion. Some Luna Parks featured miniature railroads.  Many of the world’s fast foods had their origins in the White City, Luna Park and Coney Island amusement parks. It was here that most Americans, Britons and Australians were first introduced to the hamburger, shredded wheat, Juicy Fruit chewing gum. These amusement parks exposed millions of people to a new form of music called Ragtime, composed and performed by Scott Joplin; it instantly became a staple for fairs and carnivals.

Luna Park Sydney is a park filled with a difficult history. It opened in 1935 to great success. The rides were brought from the recently shut Glenelg Luna Park for 60,000 pounds and it took 1000 men to re built the rides and the park. The park was originally closed during winter months, a tradition which stood until 1972. During this time existing attractions were re painted and moved, new attractions were added and the park was given a new feel. During World War 2, the park was caused to turn off all its light in case of attack by the Japanese, and the 50′s saw new rides and new technology come to the park and the famous moon face was reconstructed. 60′s and 70′s saw the adding of new American thrill rides and as the lease expired for the park in 1975, pressure was put on the park to be destroyed for new apartment buildings.

On the 9th of June 1979, the park’s Ghost Train caught fire. The fire quickly destroyed the ride, which was understaffed and not adequately covered by the park’s fire hose system, although it was contained before spreading to the nearby Big Dipper and River Caves. Searches of the charred rubble revealed the bodies of six children and one adult. The park was immediately shut down.

The park was bought in 1980 and everything was sold or destroyed besides Coney Island, the Moon Face, The Wild Mouse Coaster and Crystal Palace. The parks still hadn’t opened 10 years later and new apartment blocks had been built during the time it was shut. This led to further problems down the track for the park, as these residents started complaining when the park finally re opened in 1995 with a new roller coaster, now known as the Cyclone in Dreamworld.

The park was again closed in 1996 and was not opened until 2004 until all the loud rides were taken down, and replaced with cafes, concert halls and function rooms. Legal action was taken again against the park by nearby residents in 2005 and 2007 to completely shut down the park and they were asking for up to 20 million dollars in damages. These were luckily beaten and the park now operates with a descent amount of success and with the closure of Wonderland Sydney due to the corrupt Malaysian business Sunway Group, the park is still New South Wales largest up to 70 years after it opened.Luna Park.

The Sydney Tower Eye

About Sydney Tower

The Sydney Tower Eye - often referred to by Sydneysiders as Sydney Tower, Centrepoint Tower, AMP Tower, Westfield Centrepoint Tower or Sydney Skytower, amongst other names - has been an integral part of the famous Sydney skyline for the past 30 years. Find out more about this iconic Sydney landmark...

Construction of Sydney Tower Centrepoint shopping centre began in the late 1970's with the first 52 shops opening in 1972. The office component was completed in 1974 and the final stage of the complex, the Sydney Tower, was opened to the public in August 1981.

Ranked as one of the safest buildings in the world, the striking design has made the tower capable of withstanding earthquakes and extreme wind conditions.         

Facts about Sydney Tower

1. The golden turret has a capacity of 960 persons and contains two levels of restaurants, a coffee lounge, an Observation Deck, two telecommunication transmission levels and three plant levels

2. The height of Sydney Tower from the bottom to the very tip of the spire is 309 metres

3. Three double deck lifts provide access to the Sydney Tower Eye Observation Deck and restaurants

4. The 1504 fire-isolated sets of pressurised stairs, closely monitored by security, allow patrons direct access to street level, in case of an emergency.

5. The 420 windows of the tower are cleaned by a semi-automatic window cleaning machine name 'Charlie'. 'Charlie' recycles and filters 50 litres of water and takes two days to clean all the windows

6. A 162,000 litre water tank, the tower's primary damping system also acts as a stabiliser for the tower

7. 56 cables stabilise the tower, and if the strands of these cables were laid end to end, they would reach from Sydney to Alice Springs or from Sydney to New Zealand

8. The spire located above the Tower is used for telecommunications and navigation purposes

9. Contrary to popular belief, Sydney Tower was never officially named Centrepoint Tower

10. Sydney Tower is the first to see the Sydney dawn, and the last to see its final dusk

11. Sydney Tower retains its original name today as simply 'Sydney Tower', with the Sydney Tower Eye being the name of the viewing attraction located on the upper level, providing the best views from the highest point in the city

12. The SKYWALK experience was constructed at the top of Sydney Tower in 2005 at a cost of almost $4 million

Sydney Tower construction

The construction of Sydney Tower is an interesting tale of engineering and quality construction.

Pre-made individual barrel units formed the shaft of the tower and the four levels of the turret structure were constructed at the base of the shaft and raised to the top as work progressed.

The shaft supporting the turret is made up of 46 barrels units, each weighing 27 tonnes. These were brought on to the site in seven pieces and welded together. Once the first three sections were in place, a gantry crane was erected to hoist the remaining 43 barrel units.

Each barrel unit was completed with lift rails, stairwells and hydraulic risers before hoisting. The shaft contains two sets of fire stairs, fire, electrical and plumbing ducts in one half and the lift shafts in the remainder.

 

 

Once the tower structure was complete, the spire was erected. This was done in two parts, by placing one half and then lifting the top section onto the bottom section. The crane did not have the reach to lift the spire from the top, so it was lifted from the side. This was achieved despite the difficulties of maintaining adequate balance.

Find out more about the construction of the tower when you next visit the Sydney Tower Eye and SKYWALK.

Australian National Maritime Museum

THE VISION

Australians have always had close links with the sea. In 1975 a museums inquiry commissioned by the Australian Government recommended that '...priority be given to a national maritime museum in Sydney'. In 1984 an ambitious Darling Harbour redevelopment program was unveiled. The museum would stand adjacent to the historic 1903 Pyrmont Bridge, now a pedestrian link to the city.

Prominent Australian architect Philip Cox AO designed the museum building and construction started in 1986. Prime Minister Bob Hawke opened the Australian National Maritime Museum on 29 November 1991. US President George Bush, with Australia's new Prime Minister Paul Keating, dedicated the museum's USA Gallery on 1 January 1992. HM Queen Elizabeth visited the museum in February 1992.

BUILDING THE NATIONAL MARITIME COLLECTION

Well before work started on the main building museum staff, in temporary offices, were starting to assemble the new National Maritime Collectionand planning the initial core exhibitions. The distinctive collection took shape over five years through purchases, gifts and transfers from other Commonwealth collections.

The Royal Australian Navy presented two vessels: Daring Class destroyer Vampire and Attack Class patrol boat Advance. Historic yachts came as bicentennial gifts from New Zealand and Norway. A maritime historian donated his private library – the foundation of our research library which began serving the public and staff from 1986. It would later be named the Vaughan Evans Library in honour of its benefactor.

The museum struck out in a new direction when it received, again as a bicentennial gift, a generous grant from the Congress of the United States of America. Funding went to the establishment of the museum's innovative USA Gallery and its exhibitions that illuminate the maritime links, past and present, between Australia and America. The grant also funds research into this shared maritime history and the development of the USA Gallery collection. Here we show exhibitions that illuminate the maritime cultural connections between our two countries.

Army Museum of New South Wales

 Army Museum of New South Wales

Victoria Barracks is one of the best-known examples of military architecture in Australia. The Regency-style Victoria Barracks were designed by Lieutenant-Colonel George Barney, who also built Fort Denison and reconstructed Circular Quay. Most of barracks was constructed using locally quarried sandstone between 1841 and 1849. The barracks were occupied by British troops up until 1870 and then taken over by the New South Wales colonial forces. After the Federation in 1901, Victoria Barracks housed the various headquarters responsible for administering and co-ordinating the military. Between 1931 and 1936 the barracks was home to the Royal Military College of Australia and from July 1938 to July 1940 it also housed the Command and Staff School. Today, Victoria Barracks is home to the Headquarters of Forces Command.

The Barracks are widely considered to be one of the best examples of a military barracks in the world.

The Army Museum of New South Wales is housed in the original 25-cell District Military Prison which was constructed in 1847. The Museum features many army uniforms from the earliest Colonial times through the Boer War, WWI and WWII; medals awarded including Victoria Crosses, Military Crosses, Distinguished Service Orders, Campaign Medals, Royal honours; and various historical . 

An interesting gossip: the prison is reputedly haunted by a ghost, Charlie the Redcoat, who hanged himself while incarcerated for shooting his sergeant.

University of Sydney Main Quadrangle

University of Sydney

The main quadrangle was commenced in 1855 with the construction of the East Range and the Great Hall. Plans for a southern range were abandoned due to the lack of funds and it was not until after the turn of the century that construction of Fisher Library (now MacLaurin Hall) was commenced. Further additions were made in 1913-1918 and the 1920s. The east side of the western tower was completed in 1963-1966. A cloister was partially constructed. Although schemes have been prepared by various architects including Leslie Wilkinson to complete the cloister, this work has not been undertaken.

The focus of activity in the University until the 1960s and still the symbolic centre of the institution. Australia's grandest secular exercise in the Gothic Revival style. The precinct contains two significant, and largely intact Gothic Revival style interiors of international importance: The Great Hall, 1854-59, by the former Colonial Architect Edmund Blacket assisted by James Barnet and MacLaurin Hall (formerly the Fisher Library), 1902-09 by the Government Architect Walter Liberty Vernon. The many historical associations of this group of buildings with both people and events, and its influence on the development of the colony, make it of national significance. Buildings have been designed and added to the precinct over an 80 year period, and have been homogeneous and sympathetic in character.  The Main Quadrangle was built in a number of stages between 1855 and 1966 and comprises the following building phases (see individual sheets): 1855-1862 East range and Great Hall by E T Blacket 1902-1909 Fisher Library and book stack by the Government Architect 1913-1918 South range and cloisters by the Government Architect 1921-1924 North and north-west ranges by Leslie Wilkinson with Wilson Neave & Berry 1926 South-west range and west face of western tower by Leslie Wilkinson with Wilson Neave & Berry 1963-1966 East face of western tower and cloisters by Fowell Mansfield & Maclurcan In 1927 the main quadrangle was levelled, the four lawns laid down to turf and the central pathways laid with flagstones. The work was carried out under the guidance of Professor E G Waterhouse who was also responsible for planting the jacaranda tree in the south-west corner of the main quadrangle. By 1853 the site for the University had been selected, and the following year Edmund Blacket, the Colonial Architect, resigned his post in order to devote his attention to the design and supervision of the new University buildings. He stated that his inspiration was the medieval quadrangles of the Oxford and Cambridge colleges. His design for the first stage closely resembled a contemporary example, that of a college at Finchley illustrated in the Builder. In addition, Blacket selected motifs from Charles Barry's designs for the new Houses of Parliament and from the published drawings of A.C. and A.W.N. Pugin. In the middle of 1854, the Vice-Provost, F.L.S. Merewether, prodded the Building Committee into committing to building an edifice on a grander scale "for the future". Accordingly the south wing proposal was abandoned, the east wing was extended to take the displaced accommodation and the Great Hall was much enlarged. This first stage was constructed between 1855 to 1862. Subsequent additions were made by the Government.

Darlinghurst Gaol Sydney

Darlinghurst Gaol Sydney

In the 1820′s, colonial architect Francis Greenway was commissioned to design a gaol that would overlook Sydney as a constant reminder that Sydney was a convict town. The walls of the jail were built by convicts from 1822-1824, and their marks are still visible.

Greenway’s plans were used for the walls, but because he was an ex-convict, he was taken off the job and his plans for the buildings were not used. Instead, the jail was built using the plans of a jail in Philadelphia. The Plan of the Gaol was like the spokes of a wheel, with wings radiating from a central point leaving narrow segments of space between. Work began on the jail in 1835 and it took 50 years to finish.

During its long life, Darlinghurst Gaol hosted public executions on a makeshift gallows outside the main gate in Forbes Street, as well as regular “private” executions on the permanent gallows just inside the main walls near the intersection of Darlinghurst Road and Burton Street. Over 70 people were executed here including the bushranger “Captain Moonlight” (aka Andrew George Scott), Jimmy Governor (known as Jimmy Blacksmith in more recent times), and the last woman to hang in NSW, Louisa Collins.

In 1912 a new “model prison” at Long Bay was complete and the Darlinghurst establishment was transferred to this site. The old gaol buildings were used as an internment camp during WWI. After consideration the site was transferred in 1921, to the department of Education which has adapted the building for the use of the East Sydney Technical College.

According to interviews and records, Darlinghurst Gaol’s ghostly activities began with the restoration of the TAFE. There are three known haunted rooms in the old Gaol buildings; one of them is a classroom, the place where prisoners were kept prior to hanging. TAFE security guards claim they often experience ghostly activity when doing their rounds of the buildings.

According to one security guard, the lights would come one and the doors would close by themselves. He claimed that at such times, there was a smell so bad it was hard to stay in the room. He said that in that area there is a ghost of an Asian lady who is looking for her husband who was a prisoner.

Near the staircase outside it is claimed there are about five spirits, which can be heard in the blue room knocking on the blackboard. Teachers have also reported ghostly encounters. One teacher who studied Tai Chi claims he saw a ghost in a men’s toilet. Another reported a spirit followed him home all the way to Glebe Island Bridge.

Darlinghurst Gaol, Taylor Square, Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, NSW

Queen Victoria Building Sydney

Queen Victoria Building

Since first opening in 1898, the QVB has had a mercurial history. Designed by George McRae, it replaced the original Sydney Markets and was named to honour the monarch's Diamond Jubilee. Elaborate Romanesque architecture was chosen for the grand building, which housed a concert hall, coffee shops, showrooms, warehouses and a wide variety of tradespeople. Over many decades, the concert hall became the city library, offices proliferated and many tenants moved in.

Drastic Art Deco 'remodelling' occurred during the 1930s to accommodate the main occupant - Sydney City Council. From 1959 to 1971, the QVB faced near-demolition. A massive restoration project was given the green light and, in 1982, Ipoh Garden was awarded the restoration project and a 99-year lease. The fully restored Queen Victoria Building reopened her doors to Sydneysiders and visitors alike in 1986. A major refurbishment in 2009 restored her even further. Today the QVB stands in all her glory, testimony to the original vision for the building and the superb craftsmanship of the artisans who put it all back together again.

A complete summary of the site's history is outlined below.

TIMELINE

• 1810 Governor Macquarie sets the area aside, designating it to become a market place.

• 1820 A two-story building is constructed on the site. The Druitt street end has offices to administer the market. The cross-shaped Greenway's Market House sells maize, wheat, green forage, vegetables, turkeys, ducks, geese, pigs, drapery and groceries.

• 1828 Greenway's Market House is converted into Police Offices and a Magistrates Court, which all become the Central Police Court.

• 1829 The Government of the day issues a general order that the area be set aside as a market square.

• 1869 The whole market area is roofed and the street becomes an arcade within the market.

• 1887 George Mc Rae is appointed as city architect.

• 1888 First plans appear for the new George Street Market.

• 1893 Site work commences with part of the excavation.

  George McRae submits four designs for the QVB facades: Gothic, Queen Anne, Renaissance and Romanesque. The Market's committee chooses the Romanesque design and decides the building should accommodate the following:

  the Coffee Palace (a residential hotel) over several floors at the Druitt street end, a concert hall for 500 people at the Market Street end, shops, warehouses, markets in the basement served by four hydraulic lifts.

  In December of this year the foundation stone is laid by Major William Manning.

• 1894 Superstructure commences.

• 1896 Building nears completion.

  Designs are invited for an allegorical group of marble figures over the central arch in George Street. The contract is awarded to Mr W P Macintosh for two groups: one in George Street and one in York Street above the main arches, for a sum of [3,3000] pounds.

• 1897 Council resolves to name the building the Queen Victoria Markets Building "in order to mark, in a fitting manner, the unprecedented and glorious reign of her majesty, the Queen". The total building cost is 261.102/10 pounds.

• 1898 July 21: the official opening is held by Mayor Alderman Mathew Harris.

  The ground floor has 58 shops with a variety of tenants, including:

  tailors, mercers, boot importers, hairdressers, tobacconists, florists, chemists, fruiterers, a tea room.

  On the first floor are 17 large rooms, warerooms, showrooms and offices. On the second floor are 12 large rooms with a gallery.

  At the southern end is the Coffee Palace featuring:

  a dining room, sitting, drawing and public rooms, 57 bedrooms, a gallery and promenade.

  Little mention is made of the basement tenants but the accommodation includes:

  strong rooms, cooling chamber, wine bodegas and cellars and public toilets.

• 1901 Tenants have changed considerably from those who first occupied the building, with only Singer Sewing Machine Co. and one tailor remaining.

  The basement is now occupied by:

  Lindemans Wines, Busby Wines, printers, Direct Fruit Supply Co.

  The Concert Hall has become the City Library and the Coffee Palace has become offices.

  Other tenants include:

  piano tuners, teachers of dancing, palmists, clairvoyants.

  Later this year electric power and lighting is installed throughout the building.

• 1918 The building's name is changed to Queen Victoria Building.

• 1934-1938 The Architects Branch of City Engineering and Building Surveyors Department remodels the building.

  Galleries are floored over and shopfronts are remodelled again in the Art Deco style featured in the area occupied by the Sydney County Council.

• 1959 Alderman Jensen proposes to demolish QVB to form a parkland and civic square with parking and shopping beneath.

• 1964 Turrets are removed from the base of each minor dome.

• 1971 Sydney's new Lord Mayor Emmet McDermott commits Council to the restoration of QVB.

• 1976 A panel is formed for the QVB restoration and tenders are called for submissions as Project Manager on the QVB restoration. A total of 55 submissions are received by Council.

• 1978 January: the Hilton bombing affects glass in QVB.

• 1979 January: glass replacement commences (as a result of the Hilton bomb blast).

  July/August: restoration of minor domes commences, proving to be a time consuming task for copper craftsmen.

• 1980 Sydney City Council seeks public submissions for the restoration of QVB.

  June: Malaysian company Ipoh Ltd develops a restoration scheme for QVB.

• 1983 Council grants a 99-year lease to Ipoh Ltd and an agreement for the restoration program is signed.

• 1984 Restoration begins.

• 1986 November: QVB reopens its doors to the public.

• 1987 A number of Turrets are restored to original position around the minor domes.

• 1998 100 years triumphant.

• 2000 QVB Ballroom is restored to the tearoom.

• 2008 A $48m refurbishment of the building commences.

• 2009 Refurbishment is complete welcoming new escalators connecting upper levels, elevators, painting throughout, balustrades, carpet, signage and bathrooms.