Psycho

Firstly, I never said they WOULD do it. I was talking about this statement you made: "how could you relocate a wooden roller coaster. tou cant take it into pieces like a steel roller coaster. a wooden roller coaster is built permanately." If you read my post, I was stating that it is possible to relocate woodies, but whether they would find it worthwhile to or not is another matter. Secondly, the closure of Little Wonders Land had nothing to do with a land agreement or lease expiration. You can ask Wonderland yourself. The land is still under the ownership of the park.

It is possible to relocate wooden rollercoasters. While it may be more costly, time-consuming and difficult than relocating a steel coaster, it is possible. Just as examples from rcdb, Little Dipper at Hillcrest Park (similar size to the Beastie) Skyliner at Rosemont Park Giant Coaster at Paragon Park are all examples of woodies which have been successfully relocated.... So it is indeed possible. Whether it would be worth it is another matter...

well disneyland itself only around 34-35 hectares.... i think richard said wonderland was over 60 when hanna barbera was still part of the park, so i guess it's true.....

This is just my opinion.... But I don't think the inability to move the Beastie was the reason for the zoning of the business park or the closure of Little Wonders Land / Hanna Barbera Land. Perhaps, rather than guests feeling the park was too large, the park themselves felt the park was too large. Maybe they felt, in order to lower staff and maintenance costs, it would be wise to make the overall size of the park less. ???? If they really wanted to put the business park on that land they would have simply demolished the Beastie for good.

I'll try to get some more photos up over the next few days for those that wanted to see some more.... Cheers P.S. I think the coaster looked much better with a red train too...One primary colour against another just seems to suit amusement rides...

Was this the place that had a fireworks shop out front.......? :!:

Ok, I'm in a picture posting mood. Sorry. These aren't from any web site...... I took these pics during the first week of Luna Park Sydney's operation way back in 1995 (Hence, the quality of a few may not be the best).... Anyway, hope you like, because we'll never see Luna Park in the same state again....... I've got more.....but I didn't want to push it hehe

Well I was planning on scanning this along with the map last night and posting it on here but my scanner started making some weird noises and decided to die at a very inconvenient moment. So, a day of shopping and $500 later, me and my new scanner can now post this brochure. This isn't the oldest brochure you can find, and I'm sure that others on here will have older, but it's the oldest I have in my collection. Not sure if the writing will turn out so I'll quickly run through the descriptions for those that care... Page 1 - Australia's Wonderland. Sydney. 1993/94 Season. Australia's Largest Theme Park. Page 2 - Welcome to Australia's Largest Theme Park. Australia's Wonderland set on over 200 hectares is the most fantastic one day adventure in Sydney! Over 7 million visitors can't be wrong. [it is now over 15 million]. It's as big as Disneyland with six exciting theme areas including Hanna Barbera Land, The Australian Wildlife Park, International Village, Goldrush, Transylvania and in the summer, The Beach. A day at Wonderland is a holiday in itself. Page 3 - Hanna Barbera Land. All your favourite cartoon characters including Yogi Bear and Fred Flintstone come to life and welcome you to Hanna Barbera Land. Have your photo taken with them and watch exciting live shows and performances at the Gum Tree Puppet Theatre. International Village [Now Old Botany Bay]. This wonderful land of colour and vibrance gives you the flavours of the world. Browse through interesting shops or go on the wild rides like Bounty's Revenge. Wherever you wander at Wonderland, there's plenty of delicious meals, snacks and beverages to tempt you. But don't rest too long, there's plenty more to see... Page 4 - Goldrush - We take you back to the rough, tough colonial days of the Goldrush. Ride the mighty Bush Beast - the largest, most awesome wooden roller coaster in the southern hemisphere. Bounce across the water's surface as your craft shoots the spectacular white water rapids of the Snowy River Rampages. Feel the exhilaration as you plunge to the ground from frightening heights on our exciting Skyhawk ride. Gulp! Transylvania - Ride the awesome Demon, teh centrepiece of the spine chilling Transylvania. The Demon is the fastest roller coaster in the southern hemisphere and one of only a few in the world [before the days of Vekoma mass production ]. Don't miss lunch at the licensed Lakeside Bistro, for mouth watering steaks and seafood. Page 5 - The Beach - When Sydney's summer turns on the heat, a short pleasant stroll leads you to an exciting array of crystal clear swimming pools, cascades, aqua tubes, speed slides and free-fall slides. It's Wonderland's own oasis known as The Beach and it'll make cooling down as easy or as exhilarating as you want it to be. The Beach is open during daylight saving summer period only from Sunday October 31, 1993 to Sunday March 6, 1994. The Australian Wildlife Park - This New Park of the 90s has unique viewing areas set on ten acres. You'll get a close look at rare white kangaroos, giant goannas, our 5 metre long crocodile Maniac, cuddly koalas, fairy penguins and our hands-on farm for kids. Our Wildlife Park is included in your admission price to Wonderland, or pay a low Wildlife Park Only entry fee. Page 6 - Wonderland hours, weekends and holidays, shows and sponsors. [i never remember a Hollywood Stunt Show????] Page 7 - How to get to Wonderland, and information about parking [including the old $4 per car fee]. P.S. - DUE TO MY COMPUTER ILLITERACY, THE PICS ARE OUT OF ORDER...SORRY :oops:

I crawled under my bed and scrambled through my shoe box of theme park maps and brochures (I should get more organised) and this was the earliest map of Wonderland I could find......From 1995/6 when Space Probe opened. Paramount ownership??? I also found a brochure from the park's 1993 season, I was going to post it, but I didn't know if people wanted to see it?

I can remember all of those rides except one....... What was Judy's Jetliners. I remember the name, and vaguely where it was situated in HBL, but I have no idea what sort of ride it was.... Can anyone enlighten me? :idea:

Most of the parks seemed relatively quietish last week (judging from car parks anyway) Even on a pretty busy day I'd say you'd be able to easily fit more than one ride on TOT in.....Longest I've ever experienced during summer holidays was a 45 minute queue and I doubt it'd be that bad in Winter. Although, other people may know differently. Anyway, hope you have fun

ah, i had no idea. and there's me being rude and not saying hello..... sorry :oops:

Yeah I got it from the Daffy store.... I was served by a guy, but I didn't check his name tag. Stupid me

Hey all. Got back yesterday from the coast, but have only just had the chance to get on the net. Well, my only free day (Saturday) was spent at Movieworld. Got to the park just on 10am, so the crowds were still pretty light at this stage. I headed straight to Scooby Doo, expecting it to have a lengthy queue since it was the cross-over between NSW and QLD school holidays. Boy was I suprised! Got to the new building (last time I saw it, it was still in the Gremlins form), and the first thing I noticed was that it really does stand out like a sore thumb. But still, the building looks great. I can see what people mean by the quality of the theming inside now too. There were few, if any, scratches or marks on the walls etc. The ride was great (a big improvement on Gremlins ).I had completely forgotten about the tilting of the elevator so that scared that **** out of me on the first ride. I've always loved Wild Mouse coasters so this was a great ride for me. The longest I waited for Scooby was about 10 mins. The queue got up to about 30 mins at its worst. Got in eight rides though, so I was happy. I got on Wild West Falls at about 10.30am. This ride is great to get on in the morning as the lines are usually short at this time, and, if they're short enough you get to stay on and go round and round and round..... I got about 6 rides on WWF. My first ride on Lethal Weapon was great. I got awesome airtime and a nice long feeling of weightlessness. I thought I had actually found a Vekoma running a smooth day.......I was wrong. It just seemed to get rougher and rougher by the end of the day. After three rides, I left with an aching headache and a sore jaw. This has become a two ride maximum for me. The new Batman was ok, but not great....I still like the original better. But it was a walk-on when I got there so I can't complain. I had a quick ride on the Looney Toons River Ride (for old times sake). But I ended up with the same problem I have every time I visit Movie World nowadays.... I run out of things to do after about 2pm. I've visited the park over 10 times now, so I guess it just needs a couple more major attractions before I can fill a day completely now. But overall, I had a great time and loved Scooby. Longest wait time was 15 mins (for Lethal Weapon due to one-train operation - the other train was nowhere to be seen....maintainance??) and the average wait was around 5 minutes. I love your Matrix cards Rabid, I won a Wet 'N' Wild pass. Shame I only had one spare day. But I guess I'll have to get back up there within the year to use it Thanks for all the help in planning my day guys, it was a great one

Sounds good..... Interesting article in one of the Sydney papers the other day (I don't know how many saw it) about construction at the park, and the problems workers are having with neighbours to the Luna Park site. Apparently, workers have been suffering abuse (including being spat on from balconies) while they are working. Workers have reportedly been approached by locals asking if they will be working on Saturdays and when they answer in the affirmative have been told to get ****ed then. Locals have also apparently called rangers down to the site when construction work begins one or two minutes outside the agreed operating times.....

Thanks for the thoughts guys.....Looks like, after the general consensus, that I might be riding Scooby for the first time this weekend. "I'M EXCITED!" P.S. Sorry about posting in the wrong forum :oops:

Hey all, This week I have to go up to Brisbane for work. Seeing as I have one day free, I was thinking of visiting one of the parks up there. I haven't been to any up there for a good 3 to 4 years, so I was wondering what everyone thinks would be the best to visit since I only have the one day. I've narrowed it to either Movieworld or Dreamworld because a) Seaworld hasn't added anything astounding, I'm not fascinated with water slides, and c) There's only so many times I can watch a dolphin show. So I have either: Dreamworld, which has added 1) Nick Central, 2) Cyclone, 3) all the Big Brother hoo hah, since I've been there.... Or Movieworld, which has added Scooby Doo since I last went... I really want to try Scooby but it seems Dreamworld has more new stuff to offer.....? Any thoughts? Does anyone know what sort of wait times the majors will have during a holiday period? Thanks

Would Wonderland go as far as to offer stand-alone admission in light of an expansion?....In the same way as you can get admission just to the Wildlife Park? Just thinking, it's possible, seeing as it could potentially increase overall attendance...And seeing as Sydney doesn't have a major water park

I guess the 'banana factory' is the Coles Fruit & Veg Distribution Centre thats been discussed in other forums? Question though....Is this actually being constructed in the carparks or on the opposite side to the park. From the picture in the newspaper article posted it looked like it was on the vacant land to the opposite side of the carpark..... And everyday at a theme park? Still beats work in my books, no matter how good or bad the rides are.....

Well I suppose if you could have called their cable car addition a "ride", then they added that after Space Probe. There was more than a 1-2 year space between a lot of the attractions you listed. With regard to the additions of Wet 'N' Wild, Seaworld etc. These parks each have a very individual focus. Seaworld has obviously been focusing on animal attractions in recent years, with the exception of Cartoon Network Cartoon Beach (eg: Polar Bear Shores, Dolphin Cove etc). Wet 'N' Wild has added a number of slides in recent years - because that's what the focus of that park is. And the spas are only a part of a larger attraction due to open later this year (if I'm not mistaken). Even so, I don't think anyone could say that Wonderland's additions pale in comparison to additions made by the other major players in Australia's theme park industry over the past 8 years. (With the possible exception of Luna Park Melbourne).

I won't deny that Sunway has made some good additions to the park. The park definately is cleaner. And the theming improvements have created a better atmosphere than the park ever had during the early 90s. After the park closed HB Land, they have made some tremendous efforts to regain the family sector of the market. Relocating rides, new shows, new promotions, offering discount admissions and introducing characters have all seemed to work well in achieving this. Having said that, the time has now come for the park to refocus its attention to the thrill-seeker market. There is no denying that the park needs SOMETHING new very soon. While the two improvements that the park has worked on have been effective IMO, the only thing lacking from making Wonderland a great park that I would visit regularly again, are one or two new thrill rides.

ok some people seem to have taken what i said seriously, so ill just say my little comment was just that....a little comment. wasn't meant to be a "threat" or any sort of competition. i realise why you can't divulge information, and i dont want a harmless whinge of mine turning into a big b*tch fight

Ok let's recap what the rumours flying around are..... * Ride * Themed to a Marvel character * Not Vekoma * Costing a lot of money * Australia trying to do outdo America in the coaster department? Oh to dream a dream, wouldn't an Incredible Hulk launched B&M look nice in the park? I hope the people that know realise how mean they are.....And if they're telling fibs they'll have a lot of people after them (angry villagers with pick forks style!) :shock:

I have to agree with Flea, anything would be an improvement on nothing.

Someone told me that North Sydney Library (I think that's where it is) has a pretty good source of information on the park and stocks old media on the park (photos etc.) I've never had the chance to check if this is true, has anyone ever had a look through there?