This was published 6 years ago
Sydney's forgotten theme parks
A look back at Sydney's theme parks from yesteryear. A look back at Sydney's theme parks from yesteryear. Fairfax owned photos available for purchase from https://www.fairfaxsyndication.com/
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Water slide at Magic Kingdom at Lansvale, 11th February 1983. Credit:Fairfax archives
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Waterworks at West Manly Promenade on opening day, November 06, 1981. Credit:Cermak/Fairfax Media
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An attendant at the Manly Waterworks looks on as the children get out of the water on December 20, 1985. Manly Waterworks was also the site of the filming for BMX bandits - an early Nicole Kidman film.Credit:Ian Charles Cugley/Fairfax Media
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Waterworks at West Manly Promenade on opening day, November 06, 1981. Credit:Cermak/Fairfax Media
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Two girls wait their turn on the slide at Manly Waterworks, December 20, 1985. Credit:Ian Charles Cugley/Fairfax Media
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At Warragamba, Funland, once filled with children's rides such as trains, metal slides, a merry-go-round and a small ferris wheel, is now in total rusty disrepair.Credit:Nathan Lehmann
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Opened as Funland, the park then became Adventureland, but closed due to the nearby theme park competition.Credit:Nathan Lehmann
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Sydney’s lost amusement park at Warragamba Dam, Funland. Credit:Nathan Lehmann
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Australia's Wonderland at Eastern Creek, which takes it's name from the theme park of the same name at Tamarama, opened to much fanfare in 1985, by the then NSW Premier Neville Wran.Credit:Nathan Lehmann
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Sydney's Wonderland, 2003. Credit:Jackie Ranken/State Library of NSW
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Last day of Wonderland in 2004.Credit:Steven Siewert
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Space Probe 7 ride at Wonderland in 1995, at the time the highest and fastest freefall ride in the world. Credit:Jessica Hromas
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Wonderland operated for 19 years before it was demolishedCredit:Nathan Lehmann
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Magic Kingdom in ruins. Credit:Nathan Lehmann
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Last day of Wonderland with final guests on on the Pirate Ship ride. Credit:Steven Siewert
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Last day of Wonderland.Credit:Steven Siewert
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Magic Kingdom closed its doors not long after Wonderland opened (now also since closed), unable to compete against its rival. Credit:Nathan Lehmann
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Magic Kingdom operated from the 1970s through to the early 1990s. Credit:Nathan Lehmann
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Abandoned theme park Magic Kingdom. Credit:Nathan Lehmann
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The 23m Skydive at the Mt. Druitt Waterworks, January 11, 1988. Credit:John Nobley/Fairfax Media