Scarborough, Queensland
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Greg Stephenson
G’day all
It’s Christmas Eve and I remember that growing up at Redcliffe in Queensland in the 1960’s and 1970’s that as a child we’d always go the Funfair at Scarborough on Christmas Eve to wear us out to make us sleep! It was located opposite the foreshore
camping area where various uncles, aunts and cousins would spend the summer holidays.
As well as mini golf and air pistols, I recall a train ride on a circular track. From memory the locomotive was petrol powered given the noise it made! At a guess it was probably 12” to 15” gauge. 🤔 Apart from knowing it existed I have no other
knowledge and don’t recall ever riding the train. I seem to recall the whole place was operated by the Catholic Parish for the benefit of De La Salle College.
The site was redeveloped into a unit block.
I wondered if anybody might have an ideas on the venture and train.
There was also another amusement train ride at Redcliffe on the foreshore at the end of ANZAC Ave. But I recall this being a circular track of smaller diameter.
Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year
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Michael C.
Season's greetings from the Formerly United Kingdom. Just as an aside, we have a Scarborough in the UK too and it has a miniature railway! https://nbr.org.uk/ It's unusual as it is 20" gauge. https://nbr.org.uk/heritagerailway/ I have an album of images on Flickr. Take a look if you're interested. https://www.flickr.com/gp/55958391@N07/83f7j3 Since I visited they've had a steam locomotive constructed. Best wishes for Christmas and here's to a better 2021! Michael Chapman From: Greg Stephenson <LRRSA@groups.io> Date: Thursday, 24 December 2020 Subject: [LRRSA] Scarborough, Queensland To: LRRSA <LRRSA@groups.io> G’day all
It’s Christmas Eve and I remember that growing up at Redcliffe in Queensland in the 1960’s and 1970’s that as a child we’d always go the Funfair at Scarborough on Christmas Eve to wear us out to make us sleep! It was located opposite the foreshore
camping area where various uncles, aunts and cousins would spend the summer holidays.
As well as mini golf and air pistols, I recall a train ride on a circular track. From memory the locomotive was petrol powered given the noise it made! At a guess it was probably 12” to 15” gauge. 🤔 Apart from knowing it existed I have no other
knowledge and don’t recall ever riding the train. I seem to recall the whole place was operated by the Catholic Parish for the benefit of De La Salle College.
The site was redeveloped into a unit block.
I wondered if anybody might have an ideas on the venture and train.
There was also another amusement train ride at Redcliffe on the foreshore at the end of ANZAC Ave. But I recall this being a circular track of smaller diameter.
Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year
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The train ride described by Greg appears to be the successor to the one that operated at Redcliffe from 1944. This was in the amusement complex known as "Luna Park" and was at Sutton's Beach. It was established by the Redcliffe Town Council who leased the rights to operate it to Wirth & Scott, who included a small railway circuit. It has been pointed out that Redcliffe would have been a magnet for US troops on R&R towards the end of the Pacific war. In 1950, Luna Park was taken over by the entrepreneurial Catholic priest Bart Frawley of St Bernadette’s Parish, and used as a fundraiser, particularly for Catholic school development. The locomotive was a loosely steam-outlined petrol powered machine.
There were quite a few such trains of around 2ft gauge which appear to have operated in amusement parks and drive-in theatres in the period between 1945 and 1970 and only a few have been documented, so thanks to Greg for providing information on this one.
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Grant Maloney
Hi very interesting. I am seeking any information on the carribean gardens train and one which used to run at Whistle stop amusement park in Frankston. Both in Victoria.
Any info would be great.
Thanks Grant
From: LRRSA@groups.io <LRRSA@groups.io> on behalf of John Browning <ceo8@...>
Sent: Saturday, 26 December 2020 11:59 PM To: LRRSA@groups.io <LRRSA@groups.io> Subject: Re: [LRRSA] Scarborough, Queensland The train ride described by Greg appears to be the successor to the one that operated at Redcliffe from 1944. This was in the amusement complex known as "Luna Park" and was at Sutton's Beach. It
was established by the Redcliffe Town Council who leased the rights to operate it to Wirth & Scott, who included a small railway circuit. It has been pointed out that Redcliffe would have been a magnet for US troops on R&R towards the end of the Pacific war.
In 1950, Luna Park was taken over by the entrepreneurial Catholic priest Bart Frawley of St Bernadette’s Parish, and used as a fundraiser, particularly for Catholic school development. The locomotive was a loosely steam-outlined petrol powered machine.
There were quite a few such trains of around 2ft gauge which appear to have operated in amusement parks and drive-in theatres in the period between 1945 and 1970 and only a few have been documented, so thanks to Greg for providing information
on this one.
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Apologies to Jim for not mentioning his book and acknowledging his fine work in recording details of a variety of amusement lines.
But I don't believe either of us were aware before of the Father Frawley's Fun Fair line. Greg tells me that he can just remember seeing the Luna Park amusements being dismantled. Best wishes for 2021. John
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