THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON Part 1
With their giant leering faces, the Luna Parks in Sydney and Melbourne are known across the country as entertainment institutions. But most Australians seem to have forgotten that there once stood a third Luna Park, with its own unique face and fascinating story. The Park was located on Scarborough Beach in Western Australia and was open from 1939 until 1972.
The Park’s closure was the final chapter in what was one of the most sordid and scandalised businesses in the country for almost the entire duration of its existence. The Park’s first incarnation begins with its founder Lionel Morris in 1928.
As a young man, Lionel Morris immigrated to Melbourne with his family from England. He found his new home to be a place filled with wonder and opportunity. By 1920, Australia was again at peace and starting to recover from a horrific war. It was boasting world-class attractions including Princes Court (located where the Melbourne Arts Centre is today) with its log flume water ride, Japanese tea house and the Fitzpatrick Brothers’
