Manly Fun Pier, Amusement park in Manly Cove, Australia
Manly Fun Pier was an amusement park extending into Manly Cove with multiple rides including a Ferris wheel, ghost train, dodgems, and octopus ride overlooking Sydney Harbor. The structure projected into the water, giving visitors views of the bay from all sides.
The structure was first built between 1850 and 1859 as a cargo wharf before being converted to an amusement venue in 1931. After nearly 60 years of operation, it was demolished in 1989 and later replaced by a modern passenger terminal.
The pier was promoted with the slogan "Built for fun in 31". Its attractions drew crowds to Manly Cove, where the ghost train's door opened toward the water and the mirror maze rewarded finishers with a medal. A silhouette artist, John Ross, worked among the rides.
The location sits in Manly Cove and was easily accessible from the beach and foreshore walks. Since the pier no longer exists, visitors can only view the empty space or explore the modern terminal that now occupies the site.
The ghost train's door opened onto the water as the car approached, so riders thought they were about to plunge into Manly Cove. The pier also had a shark aquarium entered through a large shark's mouth, and visitors who finished the Mirror Maze received a medal.
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