Luna Park Sydney opened on 4 October 1935 at Milsons Point, on the northern shore of Sydney Harbour directly beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Its site had previously been used to fabricate steel components for the bridge itself, and the park’s iconic grinning ‘Mr Moon’ face entrance has welcomed generations of visitors in the decades since, surviving multiple closures, redevelopments, and ownership changes along the way.
Today the park is operated by Oscars Group, which took over the long-term lease in late 2024, while the land remains held by the Luna Park Reserve Trust. More than 1.1 million people visit each year to ride attractions old and new, including the heritage-listed Coney Island fun house and the Big Dipper, a modern Intamin launch coaster that opened on Boxing Day 2021 as the park’s largest-ever single ride investment.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Milsons Point, Sydney, Australia
- Operator: Oscars Group
- Opened: October 4, 1935
- Size: About 3.1 hectares (7.7 acres)
- Annual visitors: More than 1.1 million
- Signature attraction: Big Dipper (Intamin launch coaster, opened 2021)
A Harbourside Icon
Luna Park’s setting is part of its appeal: the park sits right on Sydney Harbour with the Harbour Bridge towering overhead and the Opera House visible across the water. That waterfront position, combined with the park’s heritage status, has made it a Sydney landmark as much as an amusement park, and its ‘Just For Fun’ entrance face has become one of the city’s most photographed structures.
The park’s history has not been smooth sailing. It closed after a fatal 1979 Ghost Train fire before reopening in 1982, then shut again in 1996 after noise complaints over a new Big Dipper coaster restricted its operating hours and made the park unprofitable. Following another redevelopment, Luna Park reopened in April 2004 and has operated continuously since, passing 20 million visitors in 2023.
Rides New and Old
Coney Island, a heritage-listed fun house dating back to the park’s early years, remains one of its most distinctive attractions, packed with classic amusements like slippery slides and spinning barrels. Alongside it, the park has steadily added modern thrill rides, culminating in the 2021 debut of the Big Dipper, a multi-launch Intamin coaster billed as the world’s first launched single-rail coaster.
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Luna Park Sydney FAQs
When did Luna Park Sydney open?
Luna Park Sydney first opened on October 4, 1935, at Milsons Point beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Who operates Luna Park Sydney today?
Oscars Group took over the park’s long-term lease in late 2024; the underlying land is held by the Luna Park Reserve Trust.
What is the park’s newest major ride?
The Big Dipper, a multi-launch Intamin coaster, opened on Boxing Day in 2021 as the park’s biggest-ever ride investment.
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Photo: Maksym Kozlenko / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.