Darling Harbour Carousel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Carousel |
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| Location | Concourse under Western Distributor at Darling Harbour, Sydney central business district, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Official name: Carousel, The; The Carousel; Darling Harbour Carousel | |
| Type | State heritage (movable / collection) |
| Designated | 28 June 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1620 |
| Type | Funfair |
| Category | Recreation and Entertainment |
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The Darling Harbour Carousel is a super old and special carousel located in Darling Harbour in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It's also known simply as The Carousel. This amazing ride is so important that it's listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register, which means it's protected because of its history and unique features.
Discover the Carousel's History
How the Carousel Came to Australia
The Darling Harbour Carousel arrived in Australia in 1894. A man named Thomas Kale bought it second-hand. It needed a lot of work to fix it up. For example, the spaces between the horses were changed to a flat platform. Back then, the horses didn't move up and down.
Around 1910, Thomas Kale hired an Australian engineer, Herbert Thompson. He designed a special system to make the horses "gallop" or move up and down. Imagine how exciting that must have been!
Early Public Appearances
In 1912, the carousel was a big part of the celebrations. It was set up outside the Customs House at Circular Quay. This was to welcome the American Naval "White" Fleet.
In the 1920s, Thomas Kale sold the carousel to his son, David Kale.
Travelling Around New South Wales
Under David Kale's care, the carousel became a travelling star! It went all over New South Wales. It was a regular and popular attraction at most big agricultural shows, fairs, and special events.
During this time, a local artist named Paddy Murray repainted many of the carousel's beautiful scenes. The carousel was even at the Sydney Royal Easter Show every year from the 1920s until 1939.
Wartime and New Ownership
From 1941, the carousel stayed at the Manly Amusement Pier. This was because of World War II conditions. After the war ended, it started running again at Manly Pier.
In 1951, David Kale sold the carousel to Porter and Smit. They were the people who ran the Manly Amusement Pier. An electric motor was added to the carousel that year to help it run.
Back in the Family
In 1957, David Kale's grandson, Allen, bought the carousel. Allen had helped his grandfather run it before the war. The carousel had gotten a bit old and worn out. So, Allen Kale worked hard to fix up many parts of it. The carousel stayed at Manly until the 1970s.
Finding a Permanent Home
In 1986, the Darling Harbour Authority bought the carousel. They wanted it to be a permanent attraction in the Darling Harbour area. It was stored for two years. Then, it started running again in 1988.
From 1990 to 1993, Allen Kale was hired to manage its full restoration. A special building was even built over the carousel in 1993. This building, designed by architect Feiko Bouman, protects it when it's not in use. Allen Kale's son, Bruce, who is a sign writer, helped restore the amazing paintings.
Since 1996, the carousel has been operating in Darling Harbour. You can ride it on weekends and during school holidays!
What the Carousel Looks Like
A Closer Look at the Ride
The Darling Harbour Carousel is a special kind of carousel. It has three rows of "suspended-gallopers." This means the thirty wooden horses move up and down as if they are galloping! It also has two cool replica vintage cars you can ride in.
Even though it uses an electric motor now, it still has its original steam boiler and engine. It also has a special musical instrument called a Gebruder Bruder pneumatic band organ.
The carousel is inside an eight-sided building. This building has a glass roof and metal doors that close to protect it.
How it Moves and is Decorated
The carousel sits on a timber wagon with four wheels. A central pole turns twelve wooden beams that spread out like spokes. These beams support the wooden floor where the horses are.
The horses are three abreast, meaning three horses side-by-side. They fill ten of the twelve sections. The other two sections have the vintage cars. The whole carousel is covered by a canvas dome and is covered in lights.
The original steam engine and the electric motor are both on the central wagon. The electric motor is used today.
The carousel is covered in amazing decorations and artwork. You can see painted scenes on the outside of the roof, on the central parts, and all around the floor. These paintings include:
- Scenes of Venetian gondolas.
- Aboriginal Australians hunting kangaroos.
- Native Americans chasing a covered wagon.
- Sea shells, different animals, and nursery rhyme scenes.
- A lighthouse, tall ships, and a Manly ferry steamship.
The Music Machine
The band organ was made by Gebruder Bruder. It's a 52-key pipe organ with two drums and a cymbal. The organ is inside a beautifully decorated wooden case. It works using air and a special perforated paper roll. The organ itself is on a four-wheel timber carriage.
Changes Over Time
The carousel has been updated many times since it was built:
- Around 1910, the "galloping" system was added.
- In the 1920s, English scenes were replaced with Australian ones.
- In 1951, an electric motor was added.
- In the 1950s, much of the wood was replaced, and horses were fixed.
- At some point, two sleighs were replaced with the vintage cars.
- In the 1960s, the band organ and painted scenes were refurbished.
- From 1990 to 1993, the carousel was fully restored, and its protective pavilion was built.
Why the Carousel is Special
The Darling Harbour Carousel is a very rare and complete example of an Edwardian-era carousel. It's like a time capsule! It still has its original steam engine and parts, showing how carousels were built and run during their "golden age" (from the 1890s to the 1920s).
Its beautiful decorations are fun and show off traditional fairground art. They also show how the carousel has changed over time to fit different places and eras.
This carousel has been a part of Sydney's culture for most of the 1900s. It has brought joy to many major festivals and events. It travelled all over New South Wales, being a main attraction at important agricultural shows and fairs. Today, it continues to entertain kids and adults in Darling Harbour, a big tourist spot in Sydney.
The Carousel was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on June 28, 2002, because it meets several important criteria:
A Glimpse into History
The Darling Harbour Carousel shows us what country fairs and amusement parks were like a long time ago. It reminds us of when mechanical rides first became popular. Back then, travelling shows were much more important than amusement parks are today.
Artistic and Technical Skill
The carousel is a complete and beautiful attraction. It has a great mix of mirrors, lights, and painted scenes. All these parts come together to create something truly impressive. The detailed carvings on the horses and central parts show a high level of artistic skill.
Important to the Community
The carousel is a very popular attraction in Sydney. Many people, both locals and visitors, enjoy riding it. This shows how much interest and fun it still brings to the city.
Learning from the Past
The carousel can teach us how steam-powered carousels worked around the turn of the century. It's a living example of old technology.
Rare and Unique
The Darling Harbour Carousel is one of the very few traditional carousels left in the world that still has its original parts, especially its working steam engine. It's believed to be the oldest operating carousel in Australia!
The carousel has been run by the same family for most of its life. This shows the tradition of carnival families, who were central to creating these amazing machines in the late 1800s.
Riding the Darling Harbour Carousel offers a rare chance to experience a traditional amusement park "joy ride" in New South Wales today.
A Great Example
The Darling Harbour Carousel is a great example of carousels made in England in the 1890s. It's also a wonderful example of the bright, fun, and rich decorations used on carousels. It shows both traditional English designs and local Australian adaptations.
It demonstrates how carousels were built, what materials were used, and how they were decorated during their most popular period.
