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Luna Park Turns 95
Seaside Fun
Melbourne's favourite face with the toothy grin turned 95 on 13 December 2007 and received a big (very big) birthday present. St Kilda artist Mark Ogge (who created the façade to the Famous Spiegeltent) created a dreamlike painting to celebrate the milestone, and the Scenic Railway – the oldest continually operating wooden roller-coaster in the world – is the star attraction.
Luna Park’s Scenic Railway holds a place in the heart of many Melburnians. Walk along the St Kilda Esplanade on a Sunday afternoon and the screams from this historic roller-coaster will be a familiar sound. Rattling around its tracks for 95 years, it still provides some of the best views across Port Phillip Bay.
A Legend is Born
Back on 13 December 1912, when Luna Park first opened her iconic mouth, Melburnians flocked to her seaside spot, lured by the exoticism of the Pharaoh’s Daughter, the splashes of the River Caves, and the whooshes of the American Bowl Slide. Within a year, between 8000-10,000 visitors were turning up every Saturday night for a slice of the sideshow shenanigans.
Happy years passed and rides changed, but Luna Park staunchly remained Melbourne’s place of fun by the Bay.
Sisters June and Linda Tadgell grew up in St Kilda in the 1920s and ‘30s, and haunted Luna Park most weekends – usually on the way to or from St Kilda Beach. Thrill-seeker June remembers going on class excursions (she went to Brighton Rd School, now St Kilda Primary) when they were given free rides all day. She held the school record for the most rides on the Big Dipper in a day (11 times) but wasn’t too interested in the Scenic Railway because “the hills were not as steep.” Fun-loving Linda made a bee-line for the Giggle Palace, because “the moment you went inside, you started to laugh.” During the Depression, all children could soak up the fun without spending a precious penny.
Kids of all ages flocked to Luna Park over the years, but as the Park aged, she became more than just a place for youngsters. Luna Park director Mary Stuart has seen generations of thrill-seekers return – first with their children and then with their grandchildren. Linda was still whizzing down the slopes of the Scenic Railway (with grandchildren in tow) in her seventies. As Mary says, “Luna Park holds a special place in the heart of Melbourne.”
Now the party girl is turning 95 and still looks good for her age. The secret to her success? Put simply by Mary, “Luna Park is a little treasure ... not a huge area, but a very special area.” She has maintained her feelgood history and also moved with the times. This connection between the past and the present is something that will see Luna Park well into her 100s.
So help Luna Park celebrate and check out her special birthday present. While you're there, get a ticket on the Scenic Railway, put your hands in the air and scream your lungs out. Go on, give the old park a reason to keep smiling for another 95 years.
Judith Hatton
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6 comments
GLENDA: My favourite memory of Luna Park is the "Penny Arcade" as I was a child of the 50's and you could play fantastic games for a penny! Also the mirrors and walking through the rotating barrel also brought a lot of laughs, but I think the highlight as a little girl was the magnificent carousel which always brought the widest smiles to all children hopped on! Wonderful memories that can't be replaced by anything these days!!!! (18 December 2007)
Tom: Like the others say, I really enjoyed the Scenic Railway with my dad - although I was 30 and he was 60! Just shows, age doesnt really matter, with enjoyment at Luna Park. (13 December 2007)
Julie: We use to live in St Kilda, when I was a young child, and our parents would take my brother and I, once a month, on a Saturday Night. We both loved the Giggle Palace with the Old King sitting up the very top laughing. Inside was fantastic, and the best bit was all the challenges you had just to get inside. I have taken my 2 girls there many times and we are going again this Christmas. (13 December 2007)
Peter: My first experience was in 1962 when my Dad took me on the 'Big Dipper' (Scenic Railway)the sensation of feeling I could touch the moon. It scared the hell out of me and for years I was afraid of heights. Now when I go to Luna Park I cannot wait to get back on the ride. I have taken my litle boy and yes I scarred the X out of him - some things don't change! (12 December 2007)
Jen B: I remeber going to see Push on at Luna Park. Great times and great music. 28 days were big back then and rocked out the joint! Best venue for outdoor concerts. (10 December 2007)
David: My strongest memory of Luna Park is the smell of the Bay as you travel the Scenic Railway, as well as the noise as you fly through the tunnels. The first place I visited with Dad as a kid was the Giggle Palace, Old King Cole was laughing as you navigated your way along uneven floors, scarey noises and Vertical Ropes. Inside was a giant slide and the large moving barrel, & those mirrors! The River Caves, The Big Dipper & Penny arcade were also great as an 8 year old - Just for Fun! (10 December 2007)
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