Wobbies World, Former amusement park in Nunawading, Victoria, Australia
Wobbies World was an amusement park on Springvale Road in Nunawading, Melbourne, with slow rides aimed at very young children. Its transport-themed attractions included a helicopter "Whirliebird" monorail circuit, a miniature train circuit, a miniature car circuit, four Melbourne W2 class trams and a Bell helicopter refurbished as a ground-mounted simulator. A large Vickers Viscount propeller plane was fitted out as a movie-projector simulator.
Wobbies World occupied a 20-acre former Tainton family orchard in Nunawading and ran from about 1970 until 1999. Rising costs, a $36 family entry in 1994 and separate ride fees were blamed for its decline. In 1999 Australand Holdings bought most of the site from owner Robin Laurie and built the Saxonwood estate of 32 townhouses and a three-level apartment block.
The park's name came from its mascot Wobby, and its cheaply made television advertisements were later parodied by the Melbourne sketch show The Late Show in recurring "Pissweak World" sketches. Four Melbourne W2 class trams stood on site, and the Vickers Viscount was fitted out as a movie-projector simulator.
The park stood on a 20-acre former Tainton family orchard on Springvale Road, Nunawading. After closure in 1999, Australand Holdings built the Saxonwood estate of 32 townhouses and a three-level apartment block on much of the site; the entrance gate, concrete castle, bridges, train station, Birthday Room and mini-golf course survived for a time within a plant nursery. The site now holds the Forest Hill Police Station, announced in September 2012.
The Bell helicopter displayed at Wobbies World was later dismantled and now lies in a paddock on Dandenong–Frankston Road, at coordinates 38°03′57″S 145°12′02″E. One of the Whirliebird monorail helicopters stands in the front yard of a private residence. The Vickers Viscount moved to the Australian National Aviation Museum in Moorabbin.
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