Luna Park - Sydney Trivia Quiz

Answer: 1935

Luna Park officially opened on 4th October, 1935 and was the first amusement park of its kind in Sydney. Up until 1972, the park would close for the winter. During this period, new rides and attractions would be added and older ones overhauled and upgraded and often given a new lick of paint.

In its first year of operation, patrons were charged an entry fee. This was eventually scrapped and admission to the park was free for a number of years.

Answer: Milsons Point

Luna Park was situated on the northern foreshores of Sydney Harbour at Milsons Point. It was on the opposite side diagonally, to the Sydney Opera House and nestled just beneath the infamous Sydney Harbour Bridge. Interestingly, in its 70 years on the site, efforts to have the park closed down at various times proved futile, and it was eventually Heritage listed.

It was one of only two amusement parks in the world to be given this status by their respective countries. The other being the Tivoli Gardens in Denmark.

Answer: South Australia

Initially, most of the parks' rides came from Glenelg in South Australia. Luna Park, Glenelg, had only been opened for a few years when it was placed into voluntary liquidation by its owner Herman Phillips. Phillips, actually had his sights set on developing an area for a new Luna Park, in Sydney.

When the location was established, the rides were relocated to Milsons Point where the entire construction process took just over three months to complete.

Answer: All external lights were blacked out as a precautionary measure against impending attacks

During the second world war, the park became a popular destination for servicemen and women on leave. Therefore, as a precautionary measure, all external and non-essential lights were switched off, as the park could have be seen as a potential target.

Answer: Old King Cole

The basis of the design for the last face, was a 1950's version of Old King Cole. The 'face' has had eight different looks over the past 70 years.

Answer: Coney Island

No trip to Luna Park was complete, without a visit to Coney Island! Half the fun was getting into the place through all sorts of crazy obstacles such as rotating barrels, moving walkways and bits of hose pipe that you had to grapple your way through. Once safely inside, there was still more fun to be had on such things as the giant slippery-slides, Donkey Walk, the Giant Spinning Wheel - hold on tight or off you'd slide! Dreamworld was situated on Queensland's Gold Coast, the Bathers' Pavilion was at Sydney's Balmoral Beach and the theme park Wonderland, was located on the outskirts of Sydney at Eastern Creek.

Answer: The Ghost Train caught fire killing seven people

On 9th June, 1979 at approximately 10:15pm, Luna Park's Ghost Train caught fire killing seven people. Six children and one adult perished. As a fourteen year old, I remember that night well. I was sitting at home listening to the radio when the news broke, and counting myself extremely lucky, since I had been there the Saturday night before, and had ridden the Ghost Train. Just a few months before in April, 13 people were injured when a mechanical fault on the Big Dipper roller coaster, caused one of the carriages to plough into the back of another.

Answer: True

After the Ghost Train tragedy, Luna Park eventually re-opened in 1982 under the name "Harbourside Amusement Park". It traded under that name until it was forced to close in 1988 due to a number of rides being declared unsafe.

Answer: Rotor

The Rotor began its life at Luna Park in 1951. Shaped like a cylinder, patrons would stand against the wall as the barrel-like structure began spinning. When it reached its full speed at around 60km, the floor would give way and you would be forced against the wall, attached to it as though you were wearing a Velcro suit! I used to love standing up on the viewing platform and watching as the more game of the group would turn upside down and perform other various feats for our amusement. Once the ride slowed down, the floor would rise back into its original position.

Answer: False

Luna Park had two "Big Dippers". The first one was a wooden structure that was transported from Glenelg, South Australia, and then re-built on site. It was demolished when the park closed down after the Ghost Train fire of 1979. The second one was made of steel and ran from 1994 until 1996, when it ceased operation due to complaints that it caused a high level of noise pollution.

It ended up being relocated to Dreamworld in Queensland.