An ode to an original..
In 2022 Dreamworld announced a new raft of investment in new and refurbished attractions.
We have already seen the first part of this investment with the refurbishment of the Dreamworks experience into Kenny and Belinda’s Dreamland, with phase 1 now open.
We expect to see Wiggles World/ ABC Kids area closed soon for the major development of Rivertown later this year.
This year though we say goodbye to a Dreamworld original, for a new, reinvigorated entry statement.
Dreamworld CEO Greg Yong advised that ground work on the new attraction has commenced, with the fountain surrounded by hoarding on 29th of May, 2023.
The Dreamworld Central Plaza Fountain will be removed to make way for the “Dreamworld Flyer”, scheduled to open by the end of 2023.
The Dreamworld Flyer is a Preston & Bamberi flying swinger attraction, a classic attraction seen at many amusement and theme parks around the world, the closest to Dreamworld being up north at Aussie World.
The fountain opened with Dreamworld in 1981, and featured several “bubbler” fountains, as well as a classic concrete upright fountain as the centrepiece.
Throughout the years, the fountain has been seen many changes, performers and temporary additions.
In the late 1990’s, the concrete centrepiece was removed from the fountain, we are unsure why it was removed, however it never resurfaced anywhere else in the park.
In 1994, as dinosaurs invaded the theme park, a robotic T-Rex was placed in the fountain.
1995 saw the summer pirates promotion installation in the fountain. The show was not performed in the fountain, but over on a piece of land near what is now Tiger Island.
In the mid 2000’s, the fountain started to be used regularly as a stage, with a temporary stage providing a platform for performers like the Wiggles, Shrek and many more to entertain guests.
During the launch of the Nickelodeon Central area, the fountain was drained and filled with sand, as the location was used for the Nick Beach Party.
Remota boats called the fountain home for many years in the late 2000’s.
Illumination used the fountain as the central focus point for that night time spectacular. The show featured lasers, music, fog and special effects.
The Beatbox was a show hosted in the fountain, with synced lighting, music and effects. The production was held in the 2015 summer holidays.
The last big production that used the fountain was The fire machine in 201.. The show was a synced pyro technic show, synced to music during the summer school holidays.
Summer 2022, the fountain was home to aerial acrobatics from the talented team at Jetpack events.
Whilst the fountain has been a home away from home for many, it’s served it’s purpose, and as the Dreamworld Flyer heads towards this space, we look forward to what energy the new attraction and its surrounds can provide for the park now and into the future.
