On 4 October 1935, Sydney was in the grip of the Great Depression. What the city needed was an escape. That escape came in the shape of a giant smiling face beneath the Harbour Bridge. Ninety years later, Luna Park Sydney still grins — despite fires, lawsuits, closures, celebrity drop-ins, and community campaigns to save it.
The 90th anniversary party on 4 October 2025 isn’t just a birthday. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of Sydney’s cultural resilience. For $35 you’ll get unlimited rides, a crash course in carnival history, a souvenir postcard, and a front-row seat to watch the past and present collide.
Video
Video credit: 7NEWS (Seven Network) — “Luna Park celebrates its 90th anniversary”. Channel 7’s news segment covers Luna Park Sydney’s 90th birthday with archival footage, crowd scenes, and what’s included in the $35 celebration.
Location
Address: 1 Olympic Drive, Milsons Point NSW 2061
Website: Luna Park Sydney
Dates
Next Event: Saturday 4 October 2025
Frequency: One-off milestone celebration
Duration: Two sessions — 10am–4pm (sold out) only 5pm–11pm tickets available.
Price
Tickets: $35 (entry + unlimited rides + entertainment + souvenir)
Availability: Morning session sold out; evening session still open. Online booking essential.
The Birth of an Icon
Luna Park Sydney was born from Adelaide’s loss. In 1935, a steamship carried dismantled rides from Luna Park Glenelg to Milsons Point — the Big Dipper, River Caves, Noah’s Ark, Goofy House — all rebuilt in just three months by 800 workers, many straight off the Harbour Bridge project.
The first giant face was sculpted from chicken wire, plaster and canvas. When the “City of a Million Lights” lit up for the first time on 4 October 1935, Sydney suddenly had a fairground escape from economic gloom.
Opening Day 1935
On that first night, queues snaked beneath the northern pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Sydney Morning Herald reported:
“It covers about five acres on which are all kinds of entertainment apparatus housed in buildings or frameworks, the principal of which is a big undulating railway known as ‘The Dipper’, on which passengers are carried around twice by gravitation with steep runs at intervals down which the cars shoot with breath-taking velocity.”
Crowds also flocked to the River Caves, Funny Land, Dodgems, Tumble Bug and Whirler. The NSW Chief Secretary Frank Chaffey declared it “a clean, bright, healthy playground.”
By Monday, ferries from Circular Quay advertised short “thrilling trips” to glamorous Luna Park aboard the White Showboats Koompartoo and Kuttabul. A month later, ads proclaimed it “Sydney’s newest, most romantic, most thrilling Amusement Centre.”
Photo credit: Luna Park Sydney archives, 1935 - Opening day at Luna Park Sydney in 1935, when rides from Adelaide were reassembled in record time to create the “City of a Million Lights.”
Through the Decades
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1930s–40s: Big Dipper ruled, Coney Island became iconic.
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1950s–70s: Generations of birthdays, first dates and school trips, until tragedy struck. In June 1979, seven people lost their lives in the Ghost Train fire, forcing closure.
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1980s–90s: Legal stoushes over the noise of the second Big Dipper, closures in 1996, and attempts to redevelop the site into a World Trade Centre or an adult theme park.
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2000s–Today: Saved by the Friends of Luna Park — artists Martin Sharp and Peter Kingston, architect Sam Marshall and countless locals — who lobbied to preserve the park. Today Luna Park Sydney is one of only two amusement parks worldwide protected by legislation.
Celebrity Check-Ins
Taylor Swift. Taika Waititi. The Kardashians. All have taken photos under the famous Face. But the real celebrities are the millions of Sydneysiders who’ve made memories here — from 8th birthdays to late-night dates on the Wild Mouse.
What's On Offer
Unlimited Rides – All Day, All Night
Your $35 ticket unlocks the full suite of rides, past and present:
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The legendary Big Dipper rollercoaster
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Nostalgic spins on the Carousel
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Heritage thrills inside Coney Island Funny Land
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Old-school staples: Wild Mouse, Dodgems, Rotor, Tumble Bug
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High-adrenaline rides: Sledgehammer, Hair Raiser
Step Back Into the 1930s
The Park recreates its launch era with:
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Jugglers, clowns and dancers in vintage costumes
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Live entertainment styled on Sydney’s opening-night carnival culture
Dream Ride Film Screening
Inside the Big Top, catch Dream Ride, a short film by Bradfield Senior College.
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Morning session: 11am
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Evening session: 5pm
Souvenir Collectible
Every guest receives an Ashley Taylor artwork postcard to mark the milestone.
The Ferris Wheel Milestone
In a symbolic tribute, ninety 90-year-olds (and anyone born in the 1930s) will ride together on Sydney’s most iconic wheel.
Photo credit: Luna Park Sydney - Thrill-seekers ride the Big Dipper, carousel swings, and the iconic Ferris Wheel against the Sydney Harbour skyline.
Food & Dining
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Helter Skelter Café and The Hungry Horse for burgers, chips, and dagwood dogs
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Carnival staples like fairy floss, popcorn, hot dogs, and showbags
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Harbour View Bar for drinks and cocktails with the best Bridge views
Venues & Entertainment Spaces
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The Big Top Sydney — a live venue hosting concerts, comedy and events (2,000 capacity)
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Crystal Palace — historic waterfront ballroom for galas, weddings, and private hire
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Sonar Room — intimate function space for immersive or corporate events
Heritage Attractions
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Coney Island Funny Land — Australia’s only surviving 1930s funhouse, complete with slides, barrels, and retro arcade energy
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Walk beneath the iconic Face and twin towers — still modelled on New York’s Chrysler Building
Seasonal & Themed Experiences
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Vivid Sydney Light Installations — Luna Park often becomes a glowing art playground in June
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Halloween Fright Nights — horror mazes and costumed performers
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New Year’s Eve Fireworks Viewing — premium vantage over Sydney Harbour
Private Hire & Packages
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Luna Park doubles as a corporate and private events venue — from school formals to film shoots, brand launches to full-park takeovers
The BioHax Take
Luna Park at 90 isn’t just about fairy floss and Ferris Wheels. It’s a living history of Sydney — a place that survived tragedy, politics, protests and time itself. For $35, you’re buying more than unlimited rides. You’re buying into a story that started with Adelaide’s cast-off rides, nearly died in flames and lawsuits, and is now enshrined in law as Sydney’s playground forever.
Who It's For
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Families chasing intergenerational fun
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Thrill-seekers craving neon adrenaline at night
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Nostalgia junkies reliving childhood birthdays
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History buffs tracing Sydney’s carnival folklore
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The ninety-year-olds who were there at the start
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the morning session still available?
No. The 10am–4pm session is sold out. Evening tickets remain.
Do I need a ticket if I’m not riding?
Yes. This is a gated event — all guests require a ticket.
Can I use my Annual Pass?
No. A 90th Anniversary ticket is required.
Are kids free?
Children under 85cm and under 2 years old enter free with a paying adult.
Are there age restrictions?
No, but ride height requirements apply.
Is it accessible?
Yes. Companion Card carers enter free when assisting a ticketed guest.
How do I get my tickets?
Tickets are emailed instantly. Check spam/promotions if missing.
What if I can’t attend?
Tickets are non-refundable but transferable.
How do I get there?
Public transport to Milsons Point (train, ferry, bus). Entry via the Face.
Why does Luna Park matter?
Because it’s one of only two amusement parks worldwide protected by law.
Related Reads
→ Sculpture by the Sea Bondi 2025
→ Floriade Canberra 2025
→ Moon Festival at Darling Square 2025
→ Paper Daisies Mount Annan 2025
→ Sydney Science Festival 2025
Article originally published: 28 September 2025, by Editor
