1979 Sydney Ghost Train fire

The Sydney Ghost Train fire at Luna Park Sydney killed six children and one adult on 9 June 1979. It destroyed the amusement park's ghost train. Inadequate fire-fighting measures and low staffing caused the fire to completely destroy the ride, which was first constructed in 1931, and had been transported from Glenelg, South Australia to Milsons Point, New South Wales during 1934 and 1935.

1979 Sydney Ghost Train fire
Memorial plaque at Luna Park Sydney in remembrance of those who died in the fire
Date9 June 1979 (1979-06-09)
VenueLuna Park Sydney
LocationMilsons Point, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates33°50′54″S 151°12′35″E
TypeFire
CauseUnknown
Casualties
7 killed

Originally the fire was blamed on electrical faults, but arson by unknown 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 choosing not to follow advice on the installation of a sprinkler system in the ride) breached their duty of care, charges of criminal negligence should not be laid. The case was reopened in 1987: no new findings were made, although the police investigation and coronial inquiry were criticised. The fire forced the closure of Luna Park until 1982, when it reopened under a new name and new owners.

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 placed on the location of the ride, but a promised mural to surround the plaque was never painted. A separate memorial park was created by North Sydney Council in 2007, including a sculpture by Michael Leunig.

Ride

Luna Park's Ghost Train was a ghost train-style amusement ride. Designed and constructed in 1931 at Luna Park Glenelg, the ride was transported to Milsons Point along with all the other rides and reassembled prior to Luna Park Sydney's first opening in October 1935.

Fire

On the night of 9 June 1979, a fire broke out inside the ride at approximately 10:15 pm. Due to a combination of low water pressure, under-staffing within the park, and inadequate coverage of the Ghost Train by the park's fire hose system, the fire was able to completely consume the ride.[1][2] It took an hour to bring the fire under control, but it was extinguished before any significant damage could be done to the adjacent River Caves and Big Dipper.[2][3]

Around 35 people were believed to have been on the ride when thick smoke began to escape from the tunnel doors.[3] Ride staff raised the alarm, and began to pull people from the ride as their cars exited the tunnel.[3] It was initially thought that everybody had escaped the fire, but at around 11:30 pm, the bodies of seven people were found inside the ride: John Godson and his two children, Damien and Craig, and four Waverley College students; Jonathon Billings, Richard Carroll, Michael Johnson, and Seamus Rahilly.[2][3] At the time of the fire, investigating police speculated that the seven had climbed out of their cars and unsuccessfully tried to find their way out of the tunnel; had they stayed in the cars, they might have survived.[3] Other evacuated passengers reported seeing empty cars exit the tunnel on fire.[4]

Investigation

The park was shut down immediately after the incident for a federal investigation.[1][3] A coronial inquiry into the incident did not determine the cause of the fire, although it was demonstrated that the ride's permanent wiring and attractions were not the source of ignition.[1] Coroner Kevin Anderson found that Luna Park's management had failed to develop an adequate fire suppression program, despite recommendations by North Sydney Council and the Fire Department eighteen months earlier.[1] Anderson's report stated that while the park's owners and management had failed in their duty of care towards patrons, the failure was not "that high degree of negligence necessary to support a charge of criminal negligence".[5] The NSW Government called for new tenders to operate the park on 31 July 1979.[6]

Before the fire, a Sydney design consultant stated that he had advised Luna Park management to install a sprinkler system in the Ghost Train in December 1977, following an inspection of the park for potential renovations.[3] The recommendation was not followed.[1][3]

In 1987, a Government inquiry into corruption by the National Crime Authority reopened the investigation of the fire.[7] No new evidence was presented, but it was found that the police investigation into the incident had been inadequate, and the coronial inquiry ineffective.[7]

Despite claims ranging from faulty wiring to sabotage in an attempt to have the park closed down and demolished, the cause of the fire has never been established.[7]

See also: Abe Saffron

In May 2007, Anne Buckingham, a niece of Sydney underworld figure Abe Saffron, claimed in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald that her uncle was responsible for the fire.[8] Saffron had been associated with seven other arson attacks in the two years following the Ghost Train fire, although he had repeatedly denied involvement with the Ghost Train fire.[2][8] Buckingham claimed the attack was part of a plan for Saffron to gain control of Luna Park's lease, although she stated her belief that the seven deaths were not intended.[8]

Former Park Artist Martin Sharp claimed that Saffron had approached Luna Park's owner, Ted Hopkins, several years before the fire, offering to buy the park.[2] In 1985, it was claimed by NSW MP Michael John Hatton that Saffron had beneficial ownership of the park, resulting in an inquiry which concluded that although people related to Saffron were involved in supplying pinball and arcade games to Luna Park, Abe Saffron himself was not linked to the ownership of the park.[2]

Buckingham later denied she made the comments attributed to her and demanded the story not be published, although the Herald claims her original statements were recorded on tape during a face-to-face interview.[8] The NSW Attorney General has stated the coronial inquiry could be reopened, but would first require the submission of new evidence to the police.[9]

Memorial

A memorial was dedicated in 1995 to the seven victims of the 1979 fire, with a tree planted next to an antique bench decorated with the names of the victims.[10] During the 2003 redevelopment, the tree was removed and the bench lost.[10] Park director Warwick Doughty claimed that the memorial and events had little relevance, although North Sydney mayor Genia McCaffery, among others, disagreed and campaigned for the memorial's reinstatement.[10] In 2004, a plaque listing the names of the victims was placed on an external wall of the Big Top, which was constructed on the site of the Ghost Train.[11][12] The plaque was to be the centrepiece of a mural painted by former Park Artist Martin Sharp,[12] but this has never been painted. At least one person present at the unveiling of the plaque was unimpressed with the new memorial.[12]

A memorial park was opened at Lavender Bay by North Sydney Council on 25 August 2007.[13] The Art Barton Park, named after former Park Artist Arthur Barton, includes a bronze sculpture designed by Michael Leunig dedicated to the victims.[13]

The Chapel at Waverley College features a memorial to four of the boys who perished in the fire. The memorial features a photo of each boy along with their names on a plaque.

See also

References
  1. Marshall, Sam (2005). Luna Park - Just for fun (2nd ed.). Sydney, Australia: Luna Park Sydney Pty Ltd. p. 110. ISBN 0-646-44807-2.
  2. McClymont, Kate (26 May 2007). "Haunting questions won't go away". Sydney Morning Herald - Weekend Insight. p. 13. Retrieved 7 June 2007. - Note that the online version differs from print article; different title (Haunting questions linger) and first three paragraphs missing.
  3. Birnbauer, Bill (11 July 1979). "Seven die at fun fair: Electrical fault suspected in ghost train fire". The Age. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
  4. "Seven die at fun fair: Suddenly fire and smoke make the mock horror real". The Age. 11 June 1979. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
  5. Marshall, Sam (2005). Luna Park - Just for fun (2nd ed.). Sydney, Australia: Luna Park Sydney Pty Ltd. pp. 110–111. ISBN 0-646-44807-2.
  6. Marshall, Sam (2005). Luna Park - Just for fun (2nd ed.). Sydney, Australia: Luna Park Sydney Pty Ltd. p. 111. ISBN 0-646-44807-2.
  7. Gregory J. Read (director) (1996). Spirits of the Carnival - The Quest for Fun (Documentary, Videotape). Sydney: Paper Bark Films (production), Total Film & Television (distribution). Scene occurring 42:00 to 43:30
  8. McClymont, Kate (26 May 2007). "Niece links Abe Saffron to Luna Park deaths". The Sydney Morning Herald. pp. 1, 13. Retrieved 7 June 2007.
  9. Australian Associated Press (31 May 2007). "Fun park fire inquest could be reopened". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 16 April 2008. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  10. Nicholls, Sean (13 July 2003). "Ghost Train memorial tree haunts developers". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 June 2007.
  11. Marshall, Sam (2005). Luna Park - Just for fun (2nd ed.). Sydney, Australia: Luna Park Sydney Pty Ltd. p. 152. ISBN 0-646-44807-2.
  12. Nicholls, Sean (29 March 2004). "Tragic day at fun park recalled". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 June 2007.
  13. Khoury, Andre (29 August 2007). "Memorial honours for victims". The Mosman Daily. Cumberland Newspapers. Retrieved 9 September 2007.
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