1979 Sydney Ghost Train fire
1979 amusement park fire in Milson's Point, New South Wales, Australia / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sydney Ghost Train fire at Luna Park Sydney in Milsons Point, New South Wales, Australia killed seven people (six children and one adult) on 9 June 1979. Inadequate fire-fighting measures and low staffing caused the fire to completely destroy the amusement park's ghost train.[1]
Date | 9 June 1979 (1979-06-09) |
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Venue | Luna Park Sydney |
Location | Milsons Point, New South Wales, Australia |
Coordinates | 33°50′54″S 151°12′35″E |
Type | Fire |
Cause | Cause disputed:
|
Casualties | |
7 killed |
The fire was originally blamed on electrical faults, but arson by known figures has also been claimed. The exact cause of the fire could not be determined by a coronial inquiry. The coroner also ruled that, while the actions of Luna Park's management and staff before and during the fire (in particular their decision not to follow advice on the installation of a fire sprinkler system in the ride) breached their duty of care, charges of criminal negligence should not be laid. The case was reopened in 1987 but no new findings were made, although the original police investigation and coronial inquiry were criticised.
A memorial garden was installed by Luna Park in 1995, but its fixtures were lost during the park's 2003 redevelopment. In replacement, a plaque listing those killed was installed at the site of the ride, but a promised mural to surround the plaque was never painted. In 2007, North Sydney Council created a separate memorial park, which included a sculpture by Michael Leunig.