The story behind Sydney’s Luna Park and its impact on the city

This episode of Conversations explores the rich and tumultuous history of Sydney's Luna Park, a beloved amusement park on the edge of Sydney Harbour. Host Richard Feidler speaks with historian Helen Pitt, whose new book chronicles the park’s origins, from its roots in American world fairs and the 1893 Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition, to its dramatic relocation from Adelaide after the original park failed during the Depression. The park was rebuilt in 1935 by American entrepreneurs and workers from the nearby Harbour Bridge project, creating a dazzling, temporary wonderland that became a cultural icon. Over the decades, Luna Park evolved from a childhood paradise into a wartime haven for soldiers, a hub for pop artists like Martin Sharp, and a site of both joy and tragedy—most notably the 1979 Ghost Train fire that killed seven, including six children, and a botched investigation that raised enduring suspicions of corruption and arson. Despite repeated threats of demolition and redevelopment, a powerful protest movement led by artists and citizens succeeded in securing legal protection for the park through the 1990 Luna Park Site Act, ensuring it would remain an amusement park forever. Today, Luna Park continues to thrive, blending heritage with modern immersive experiences from Netflix, while remaining a living monument to Sydney’s collective memory and resilience.