Sydney's forgotten theme parks
37 ImagesA look back at Sydney's theme parks from yesteryear.
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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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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
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White Water Rapids ride at Mount Druitt Water Works. Date unknown. Credit:Fairfax Media
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The water slide at the Mt. Druitt Waterworks. November 16, 1983.Credit:John Nobley/Fairfax Media
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Sean Starkenburg, 16 of Vaucluse, about to attempt the 23m high Skydive at the Mt. Druitt Waterworks. January 11, 1988.Credit:John Nobley/Fairfax Media
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Manly Fun pier in 1986. Credit:Bruce Miller/Fairfax Media
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The Manly Fun Pier, June 25, 1986. Credit:Trevor James Robert Dallen/Fairfax Media
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Manly Fun Pier, February 05, 1986. Credit:Bruce Milton Miller/Fairfax Media
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The short lived White City amusement park in Rushcutters Bay between 1913 and 1917. Credit:State Library of NSW
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White City was built on land resumed from Chinese market gardens in Rushcutters Bay in 1913 by Cozens Spencer, a film entrepreneur. Credit:State Library of NSW
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African Lion Safari at Warragamba, May 15, 1984. Credit:Gerrit Alan Fokkema/Fairfax Media
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Brention Bullen outside the refreshment rooms waiting for the auction of Bullen's Animal World, April 19, 1991.Credit:Philip Wayne Lock/Fairfax Media
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Bullen's Animal World poster. Credit:State Library of NSW
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Stephen Willis of George Hall at the Animal World, Wallacia. Stephen made friends with the oldest elephant, Jumbo on January 14, 1970. Credit:Golding/Fairfax Media
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Scott McElroy (3), of Pennant Hills, and Royce Green (6), Beecroft, dubiously watching the bison in the Indian enclosure on January 15, 1970.Credit:Fairfax Media
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Stafford Bullen holding Bikini Bear and Peter Scriven holding Dumbat at the Elephant Ride at Bullen's Animal World on December 17, 1969. Credit:John M Manolato/Fairfax Media
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Map to Bullen's Animal WorldCredit:State Library of NSW
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Manly Fun Pier, February 05, 1986. Credit:Bruce Milton Miller/Fairfax Media
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El Caballo Blanco. While many Sydney theme parks may have gone, the theme songs that advertised them live on such as El Caballo Blanco's to the tune of una paloma blanca.
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El Caballo Blanco. Credit:State Library of NSW
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Dave williams, owner and trainer at El Caballo Blanco in 1998. Credit:Sylvia Vincent
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Sonny reads the mail at ranger headquarters deep in the bushland of Waratah Park.
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Skippy, star of the TCN9 series, and his pal Sonny at Skippy's Christmas Party at Waratah Park, Duffys Forest. December 2, 1970.Credit:Fairfax Media
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Tourist brochure showing Old Sydney TownCredit:State Library of NSW
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A convict is whipped for stealling at Old Sydney Town at Gosford on August 22, 1976. Credit:Nigel Scot McNeil/Fairfax Media