Luna Park

MELBOURNE LUNA PARK

Australia’s oldest and most unique amusement park.

The origin of the amusement park or pleasure garden dates back to medieval Europe. These gardens featured live entertainment, fireworks, dancing, games and primitive amusement rides.

The name Luna Park is shared by many amusement parks around the world. All are based on the first Luna Park which opened in 1903 during the heyday of the large Coney Island parks in Brooklyn, New York. They are small-scale parks, easily accessible and offering classic funfair attractions and catering services.

After the turn of the century, the St Kilda foreshore was a popular recreation area for Melbournians. Due to the rise and fall of the Victorian economy, many of the mansions and terraces became guest houses, gardens were discarded and converted to apartment buildings thus making St Kilda the most densely populated suburb in Melbourne.

The American entrepreneur, JD Williams, saw the similarities of St Kilda and Coney Island in New York. With the help of the Phillips brothers, Leon, Herman and Harold from Los Angles, he engaged the services of architect TH Eslick to design an amusement park on the foreshore of St Kilda.

At 7 O’clock, on Friday 13^th December 1912, Luna Park opened to a blaze of electric light and the admission price of sixpence. Through the Indian Mogal’s open mouth, the band played in the Byzantine Temple, Louina and Franzy slid for life from the entrance towers, the Tossing Testros appeared and Grenado performed on the high wire. The attractions included the Great Scenic Railway, the River Caves of the World, Funnyland (later the Giggle Palace), the Crystal Tangle and the Ferris Wheel. Over 22,000 patrons attended on the first day.

From the Prahran Telegraph newspaper, Saturday 1^st February 1913, “The park with its blaze of electric lights and many shows, has quite transformed the Esplanade, and as the music from the orchestra floats out upon the air the spectators float into the modern show place……..Luna Park has established itself as a permanent magnet.”

During World War I Luna Park closed although the Scenic Railway continued to operate. The park was opened for patriotic fundraising events.

Luna Park closed after the war and did not open until 1923. During this time a major overhaul of all the rides was undertaken.

From the Grand Reopening Event, in 1923,The Carousel, from White City in Sydney, became the centrepiece of the park.  The carousel was one of Philadelphia Toboggan Company’s  “high class” rides, a grand machine designed for a permanent location. With a platform 52 feet (approx 16m) in diameter, the War and Peace-themed carousel features 68 individually carved horses, two Roman chariots, elaborate decoration and 36 cherubs frozen in flight on the rounding boards. Carved from basswood and adorned with gold and silver leaf, the horses and chariots were the work of master craftsmen, many of whom had immigrated to America from Europe and Russia in the late 19th century. Original scenery paintings, 26 in all, adorn the centre panels and rounding boards, painted by PTC’s Max Soltmann. The “War and Peace” theme is reflected in the romantic flowers and butterflies painted on some horses contrasted by swords and shields carved on others. PTC No.30 was the only PTC carousel to be exported.

The first Dodgem cars came to Luna Park in 1926. They were housed on first floor of a whimsical structure resembling something between a medieval castle and a French chateau. Although the cars have been replaced over time it is still operating. Many Melbournians have childhood memories of being battered by hordes of other learner-drivers.

The Ghost Train made its first appearance in 1934. It was built in America by Pretzel Amusement Ride Company and is Australia’s only example of this internationally famous attraction. The exterior of the enclosure is of a distinctive 30s Art Deco style. The cars are in the shape of a small steam train.

In 1981 vandals lit a fire and destroyed the original Giggle Palace. As a prevention to more fires it was found impossible that  the River Caves of the World could be made fire-safe and were replaced with the Hurricane.

The Big Dipper, which was installed in 1923 was demolished I 1989, the owners of Luna Park cited the prohibitive cost of maintenance made the ride commercially unviable.

In 2012 Luna Park celebrated 100 years in operation. Although some of the rides have changed throughout the years the one that has been constant is the Scenic Railway. It is constructed entirely of timber creating the complex web of timber beams. The rail track is almost one mile in length and circuits the park twice. The cars are in pairs and a ‘brakeman’ who stands in the centre controls the speed, this ensures that it slows to a near stop at the top of the main dips, giving riders the maximum exhilaration on the decent.

Luna Park’s Scenic Railway is the oldest ‘thrill ride’ in the world and one of the few remaining operated by a ‘brakeman’.

Melbourne Luna Park with its distinctive face and towers certainly is an iconic landmark on the foreshore of St Kilda representing fun and frivolity to many Melbournians.