The story of this place
On June 9, 1979, the Ghost Train at Luna Park burst into flames, killing six people including two children. The fire remains one of Sydney's most haunting tragedies, with many believing it was deliberately lit. The park had already survived a 1972 ghost train fire and would survive again, reopening in 1982, closing in 1988, and finally being reborn in 2004. The iconic laughing face at the entrance—8.5 meters wide and one of Sydney's most photographed landmarks—has been replaced nine times over the park's turbulent history. Each version laughs at visitors with the same maniacal grin, but the eyes have changed with each renovation.