RobK

John Relph posted a link to this excellent article (with great pictures!) on Facebook today: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/northern-beaches/manly-had-its-own-fun-pier-for-almost-60-years/news-story/c8657a350023e72d8494d8df3673b623

Hi Jobe, i have somewhat hijacked your Manly Fun Pier thread as it contained info related to the Kings Cross Minotaur's Maze (the ONLY info regarding it in the entire internet!), my apologies and I'll look at starting a new thread regarding that. I hope it might be ok we continue that discussion as its so very hard to find info or anyone and what's happened here is now there is finally some dialog so I don't want to lose it. It was such a rare and unique attraction. Meanwhile back on topic yes I remember the Manly Fun Pier! I'm from SA so have only a couple days experience of it. First time was around '74 when we pulled into the Manly pier via ferry and it was so awesome being a kid and seeing such a fun place right on the next pier. From the ferry you could see the backside of the Ghost Train which normally wouldn't mean anything except this one had doors in that side where the cars burst through by the water then returned back inside the ride. It also had a rotating house (these are called mad houses) that flipped over upside down very clearly visible from the ferry pier too. The octopus was unique in having arms that if I remember correctly literally went over the water! I was with adults visiting Manly and just a kid, we didn't go into the fun pier that visit. Several years later we returned and the pier was quite in bad shape by then. It seemed very run down. The ghost train building was still there but not only was it not operating, they put pinball machines in its entrance where you would normally board trains! That just seemed so tacky and "off"!! I ride the octopus that day and u could barely get it to spin, it took all my effort to get any spin or fun out of it. I went into the fun house which was cool with its moving walkways etc (grease!!) and it included entry into the still operating "madhouse" rotating house. Was always fascinated by the memory of that and wondered what was inside. Mystery finally revealed it was simply a platform suspended inside as the house rotated upside down etc around you. But the illusion that YOU were being flipped over was very very good. My sister couldn't keep her eyes open it was totally freaking her out! I later learned this is the type of ride that was another that fascinated me that I hadn't gone inside as a kid which was "Moon Tripper" seen at Royal shows in the 70s, shaped as a spherical moon instead of a house but the same principal. Did the mirror maze and got our ribbons! A fun visit but clearly the places golden years had long passed and this was still I think late 70s! visited the shark aquarium next door too, which also felt it was well on the way out. I was a kid seeking fun and amusements (we had zilch in Adelaide!) and even to me it had that feeling of being very very dated even though my hopes were up. Still, it WAS fun and the thing with these amusement piers and seaside amusement areas something just brings it all together and works, something about the atmosphere of combining the waterside and fun amusement areas makes it very special. So rare now! I now live in California. Los Angeles used to have a TON of MAJOR amusement piers. (Google Pacific Ocean Park, incredible!) All gone now except the minor amusement park on Santa Monica pier. But back in the 20s- 50s? Incredible stuff. California now has just Santa Monica, Belmont Park in Mission Beach San Diego (an excellent seaside amusement park I am lucky enough to visit) and The Boardwalk in Santa Cruz. Luckily the latter two's beautiful wooden seaside rollercoasters are heritage listed and now protected. Glad Sydney still has Luna Park right on the harbor, a shadow of its former self but still a great waterside amusement atmosphere. But it's sad Manly Fun Pier is no more. I got a third visit to the area much later when only a merry go round remained in an area I could not recognize at all. The old had gone completely. Thanks for posting your pictures and starting this special thread!

Hi Penny thanks SO MUCH for all those memories and descriptions!!! That's just fantastic, and confirms a lot of what I wondered about all these years. A truly unique attraction really. What other attraction anywhere in the world had / has a castle entrance over a forest clearing, a forest style mirror maze leading to several rooms only explored by forcing your way through several rotating doors with multiple possible outcomes, fantasy theming, foliage on the ceiling to sell the forest trees theme illusion, all indoors and free entry!! As to the arcade yes you enter the arcade hall and the maze entrance was at the back of this, after passing the machines. The MAZE entrance (once inside the arcade already) was an extravagant castle, with a VERY large wide archway where you could see the forest mirror maze within. I stepped inside the archway which was like a forest clearing before being too chicken to enter the "forest" that goes deeper and begins the maze. From the outside of the castle entrance, off to the side but still part of the castle facade, were two very narrow archways that had a real stairway leading up to wherever. Just clarifying as yes the village square had stairways outside, being two levels, but the ACTUAL maze castle entrance itself had a stairway built into the side of it. This added to the wow-factor extravagance of the whole maze entry way I'm working on an illustration of what I remember! Finer details aside, overall it's an image burned in my brain! i checked out that YouTube video, very cool vintage Kings cross! At one point yes they are in front of what appears to be the arcade entrance "worlds of fun". I guess that well might be the entrance to THIS arcade hall seeing as they are obviously in the village of th time. As it says in the video, free admission! You went inside, and had to go past the machines where you'd find the maze/castle entrance toward the back. thanks again! Awesome stuff!! Thanks AlexB! I've sent a message to Jamberoo!

Thanks SO MUCH for describing it. It was such a long time ago and I was so young, and only saw it once being from SA. A return visit to Sydney, I couldn't find it and couldn't even be sure if it was in the Cross or where!!?! It's really amazing for me to read your description, as it confirms what I recall. I don't know why this maze had such a big affect on me but it did. The forest framed mirrors I remember that! And I had THOUGHT I saw a reviving door but wasn't sure. AND the foliage! Like I said I didn't go in so to hear a description is awesome. Really appreciate it, it's been decades! Do you recall how the entrance looked? I recall stairways at the side, they definitely led somewhere. Thank you Penny this is awesome! See my other response above. Fantastic to get descriptions from you. I was too chicken to enter then spent the rest of my life wondering what was inside!! (Well, not every day or anything but now and again I'd have vivid memories of seeing this incredible maze entrance). Any memories of the entrance? I recall 2 stairways (it might have been one with 2 arches at the entry way to the steps) that led up to another level on the side. I dnt think it was to more maze, it might have been to a shop upstairs but it was built into the entrance / castle/ forest structure. THANK YOU AGAIN it's just so awesome to hear your description. It sounds as major as I thought it might have been in terms f size. Any idea would you say how big this maze was? Anything else? Thanks!!

Hi DIsneyDoll. It definitely had revolving doors or something like that. As mentioned I was too chicken as a kid to go in alone, but I saw a revolving door inside amongst the mirrors that others came through when they left the maze. Did you see it or go inside? I'd love to get a description of it. All I mostly recall is how impressive the entrance was, like a castle and forest with stairways on the side etc. Hoping someone has pics! One day perhaps!

Fun Pier and Mike: I remember the Maze in King's Cross. I was only a kid visiting from Adelaide but remember well the impressive sight of it! It looked like a castle but had a "forest" under the castle archway that you enter into. I also recall two stairways on the side of it going up to another level. I was just a kid and too chicken to go inside on my own, but the awesome sight of the maze has never left my memory. I'd really love to hear from anyone who knows anything about the maze or can describe it further. It really was unique and seemed very impressive from the outside. Any info appreciated