Hi-Lite Park facts for kids
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| Location | Geelong, Victoria, Australia |
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| Coordinates | 38°08′46″S 144°22′01″E / 38.146°S 144.367°E |
| Opened | 1956 |
| Closed | 1985 |
| Operating season | All year round |
Hi-Lite Park was a fun amusement park located in Geelong, Australia. It was right by Eastern Beach, a popular spot. The park was found on the corner of Bellarine Street and Ritchie Boulevard. This area was once home to the Eastern Beach tram terminus. Hi-Lite Park opened its doors in 1956 and closed around 1985.
This park was a very popular attraction along the Geelong waterfront. Many people compared it to Luna Park, Melbourne, another famous amusement park. Hi-Lite Park closed to make way for new developments. These changes were part of a big plan to improve the Eastern Beach area in the 1990s.
The Giant Ferris Wheel at Eastern Beach
In December 2006, a huge Ferris wheel was set up in the same spot where Hi-Lite Park used to be. People said it was the biggest non-permanent Ferris wheel in the Southern Hemisphere! This amazing wheel was updated by a company called Phoenix Fabrication & Welding in Geelong. They even made the gondolas (the cabins you sit in) bigger.
Fun Facts About the Ferris Wheel
The wheel had 36 gondolas, and each one could hold six people. It reached a height of 50 meters, which is really tall! A ride on this giant wheel lasted about 10 to 12 minutes.
Who Brought the Ferris Wheel to Geelong?
The Verfurth family brought this impressive Ferris wheel to Australia. They also ran Hi-Lite Amusements, which used to operate Hi-Lite Park. The first owner of Hi-Lite Park was Emile Francis Verfurth. He was a showman who moved his carnival to different places around Victoria.
