Ghost Train (Luna Park Sydney)
Encyclopedia
The Sydney Ghost Train fire was a fire that destroyed the ghost train amusement ride at Luna Park Sydney
on the night of 9 June 1979. 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. Six children and one adult were killed.
Although electrical faults and arson
by underworld figures have 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 choosing to not follow advice on the installation of a sprinkler system in the ride, breached 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 as of 2010 a promised mural to surround the plaque has not been painted. A separate memorial park was created by North Sydney Council in 2007, including a sculpture by Michael Leunig
.
Around 35 people were believed to be on the ride when thick smoke began to escape from the tunnel doors. Ride staff raised the alarm, and began to pull people from the ride as their cars exited the tunnel. 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. 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 may have survived. However, other evacuated passengers reported seeing empty cars exit the tunnel on fire.
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. 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. 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
". The NSW Government called for new tenders to operate the park on 31 July 1979.
After 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. The recommendation was not followed.
In 1987, a Government inquiry into corruption by the National Crime Authority
reopened the investigation of the fire. No new evidence was presented, but it was found that the police investigation into the incident had been inadequate, and the coronial inquiry was ineffective.
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.
, claimed in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald
that her uncle was responsible for the fire. Saffron had previously 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. Buckingham claimed the attack was part of a plan for Saffron to gain control of Luna Park's lease, although she stated the belief that the seven deaths were not intended.
Former Park Artist Martin Sharp
claimed that Saffron had approached Luna Park's owner, Ted Hopkins, at a point several years before the fire, offering to buy the park. 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.
Buckingham later retracted her comments and demanded the story not be published, although the Herald claims her original statements were recorded on tape during a face-to-face interview. The NSW Attorney General has stated the coronial inquiry may be reopened, but would first require the submission of new evidence to the police.
, but this is yet to be painted. At least one person present at the unveiling of the plaque was unimpressed with the new memorial.
A memorial park was opened at Lavender Bay by North Sydney Council on 25 August 2007. The Art Barton Park, named after former Park Artist Arthur Barton, includes a bronze sculpture designed by Michael Leunig
dedicated to the victims.
Luna Park Sydney
Luna Park Sydney is an amusement park, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
on the night of 9 June 1979. 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
Glenelg, South Australia
Glenelg is a popular beach-side suburb of the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Located on the shore of Holdfast Bay in Gulf St Vincent, it has become a popular tourist destination due to its beach and many attractions, home to several hotels and dozens of restaurants.Established in 1836, it is...
to Milsons Point, New South Wales
Milsons Point, New South Wales
Milsons Point is a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. North Sydney is located 3 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of North Sydney Council....
during 1934 and 1935. Six children and one adult were killed.
Although electrical faults and arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
by underworld figures have 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 choosing to not follow advice on the installation of a sprinkler system in the ride, breached duty of care
Duty of care
In tort law, a duty of care is a legal obligation imposed on an individual requiring that they adhere to a standard of reasonable care while performing any acts that could foreseeably harm others. It is the first element that must be established to proceed with an action in negligence. The claimant...
, charges of criminal negligence
Criminal negligence
In the criminal law, criminal negligence is one of the three general classes of mens rea element required to constitute a conventional as opposed to strict liability offense. It is defined as an act that is:-Concept:...
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 as of 2010 a promised mural to surround the plaque has not been painted. A separate memorial park was created by North Sydney Council in 2007, including a sculpture by Michael Leunig
Michael Leunig
Michael Leunig , typically referred to as Leunig, is an Australian poet, cartoonist and cultural commentator. His best known works include The Adventures of Vasco Pyjama and the Curly Flats series...
.
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 Milson's 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 10:15pm AEST. Due to a combination of low water pressure, understaffing 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. The fire took an hour to bring under control, but was extinguished before any significant damage could be done to the adjacent River Caves and Big Dipper.Around 35 people were believed to be on the ride when thick smoke began to escape from the tunnel doors. Ride staff raised the alarm, and began to pull people from the ride as their cars exited the tunnel. 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
Waverley College
Waverley College is a Roman Catholic, secondary, day school for boys, located at Waverley, in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
students; Jonathon Billings, Richard Carroll, Michael Johnson, and Seamus Rahilly. 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 may have survived. However, other evacuated passengers reported seeing empty cars exit the tunnel on fire.
Investigation
The park was shut down immediately after the incident for an investigation. A coronialCoroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
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. 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. Anderson's report stated that while the park's owners and management had failed in their duty of care
Duty of care
In tort law, a duty of care is a legal obligation imposed on an individual requiring that they adhere to a standard of reasonable care while performing any acts that could foreseeably harm others. It is the first element that must be established to proceed with an action in negligence. The claimant...
towards patrons, the failure was not "that high degree of negligence necessary to support a charge of criminal negligence
Criminal negligence
In the criminal law, criminal negligence is one of the three general classes of mens rea element required to constitute a conventional as opposed to strict liability offense. It is defined as an act that is:-Concept:...
". The NSW Government called for new tenders to operate the park on 31 July 1979.
After 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. The recommendation was not followed.
In 1987, a Government inquiry into corruption by the National Crime Authority
National Crime Authority of Australia
The National Crime Authority was an Australian law enforcement agency established in 1984.In 2003 it was superseded by the Australian Crime Commission .The NCA was set up in the wake of the Costigan Commission into tax evasion and organised crime...
reopened the investigation of the fire. No new evidence was presented, but it was found that the police investigation into the incident had been inadequate, and the coronial inquiry was ineffective.
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.
Links to Abe Saffron
In May 2007, Anne Buckingham, a niece of Sydney underworld figure Abe SaffronAbe Saffron
Abraham Gilbert "Abe" Saffron was an Australian nightclub owner and property developer who was reputed to have been one of the major figures in Australian organised crime in the latter half of the 20th century....
, claimed in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
that her uncle was responsible for the fire. Saffron had previously 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. Buckingham claimed the attack was part of a plan for Saffron to gain control of Luna Park's lease, although she stated the belief that the seven deaths were not intended.
Former Park Artist Martin Sharp
Martin Sharp
Martin Sharp is an Australian artist, underground cartoonist, songwriter and film-maker. Sharp has made contributions to Australian and international culture since the early 60s, and is hailed as Australia's foremost pop artist...
claimed that Saffron had approached Luna Park's owner, Ted Hopkins, at a point several years before the fire, offering to buy the park. In 1985, it was claimed by NSW MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Michael John Hatton that Saffron had beneficial ownership
Beneficial ownership
Beneficial ownership is enjoyed by anyone who has the benefits of ownership of a Security or property, and yet does not nominally own the asset itself....
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.
Buckingham later retracted her comments and demanded the story not be published, although the Herald claims her original statements were recorded on tape during a face-to-face interview. The NSW Attorney General has stated the coronial inquiry may be reopened, but would first require the submission of new evidence to the police.
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. During the 2003 redevelopment, the tree was removed and the bench 'lost'. 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. 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. The plaque was to be the centrepiece of a mural painted by former Park Artist Martin SharpMartin Sharp
Martin Sharp is an Australian artist, underground cartoonist, songwriter and film-maker. Sharp has made contributions to Australian and international culture since the early 60s, and is hailed as Australia's foremost pop artist...
, but this is yet to be painted. At least one person present at the unveiling of the plaque was unimpressed with the new memorial.
A memorial park was opened at Lavender Bay by North Sydney Council on 25 August 2007. The Art Barton Park, named after former Park Artist Arthur Barton, includes a bronze sculpture designed by Michael Leunig
Michael Leunig
Michael Leunig , typically referred to as Leunig, is an Australian poet, cartoonist and cultural commentator. His best known works include The Adventures of Vasco Pyjama and the Curly Flats series...
dedicated to the victims.