AusLeisure

Wonderland Entertainment and Leisure, owners of Wonderland Junior (previously Wonderland Fun Park), have announced that the inner city attraction which has offered an entertaining and nostalgic family experience for almost a decade closes its doors at its District Docklands location this month.

The closure is due to an end of lease tenancy, a change in the area's demographic and, after months of negotiations, no agreement to suit both parties could be made.

However, as one door closes another door opens, with Wonderland Entertainment and Leisure announcing a new pop-up location, The Paddock in Federation Square in Melbourne’s CBD where all events will be relocated from 12th September of this year.

It will feature the Wonderland Spiegeltent as a central entertainment hub along with major rides such as the Aviator Swing ride 35 metres high, Dodgem Cars, Ferris Wheel and other nostalgic rides and amusements.

The company will also be a presenting partner of the Melbourne Fringe Festival and has a program of school holiday fun with Circus Wonderland and Cabaret nights featuring Rouge The Show, Bernie Dieters Little Death Club, Hans the German, Oktoberfest, Blues Music Festival Melbourne, and more programmed events for audiences of all ages.

Over the years, more than 1 .5 million visitors came to Wonderland Fun Park to experience a variety of carnival classic rides, games and amusements including favourites such as the Wacky Worm Roller Coaster, Crazy Wave, Drop Zone, Dodgem Cars, Dragon Flyer and the beloved Teacups and Grand Carousel, along with special school holiday and seasonal events programming.

The Fun Park was initially located at 101 Pearl River Road in Docklands adjacent to Melbourne’s O’Brien’s Icehouse and included a theatre and eight amusement rides. In 2015 the Pearl River Road location was taken over by developers to build a cinema complex and the park moved to a smaller location underneath the Melbourne Star and became Wonderland Junior Fun Park.

Since its inception as a family attraction destination, the park’s operators added the spectacular live entertainment travelling tent, the Wonderland Spiegeltent. It presented world class performers and productions including Wonderland Kid’s Wonderfest, Santa’s Christmas Spectacular, Mystique Illusion, Jimeoin, Dave Hughes, and of course the hugely popular annual Blues Music Festival which is a free public event and has gained in audience numbers and now sees over 10,000 attendees each year.

For more information visit wonderlandspiegeltent.com.au/

Related Articles

15th July 2019 - Conference to explore the development of urban Entertainment Precincts

19th June 2019 - Dreamworld announces holiday attractions but no news on Sky Voyager opening

17th June 2019 - Jewel Changi Airport opens new attractions and Changi Experience Studio

13th June 2019 - Dynamic Attractions to create rides for Jialong Parks China

16th May 2019 - Western Australian Government to fast track planning process for new visitor attractions

3rd May 2019 - 25th anniversary DEAL exhibition sees presentation of leading amusement and attractions innovations

8th April 2019 - Ardent Leisure borrows $225 million for attractions investment

12th April 2018 - Fed Square building set for redevelopment

16th January 2018 - Uncertain future for Shepparton’s Fun City family entertainment centre

8th March 2015 - Fed Square acknowledged for carbon neutrality

4th February 2015 - Spiegeltent returns to the Hobart waterfront

1st May 2014 - Wonderland Fun Park launches Spiegeltent Salon De Elegance

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.