The Historical Timeline Mural
The Painting Team: Matilda Atkin, Caddie Baker, Mahlia Baseley, Alexander Brunner, Ava Colhoun, Lara Collins, Mandisa Considine, Romy De La Torre, Natalia Dudziak, Amalie Gomez, Evan Jones, Zara Keisler, Finn Krausmann, Elly Lin, Steven Millar, Noah Munday, Jacquelyn O’Ryan, Eyla Pineiro Kennett, Mariska Slapetova, Zed Smith, Tully Supple, Sophie Wright, Claire Zhang
Teachers: Kim Kofod, Michele Edinger, Amelia Sinclair, Sadie Whelan
The Historical Timeline mural is a montage of Luna Park’s journey from the 1930s to the future. The painting team reflects on the collective experiences of everyone through historic archives of photographs, artworks, and memorabilia; creating a journey through the past, present, and envisioning the future.
Together, these panels emanate a dreamlike vision of Luna Park's enduring magic and its place in public memory.
The mural was displayed in Stanton Library for History Week in September 2025, and was based in Coney Island for the 90th Birthday of Luna Park in early October 2025.
Panel 1: 1930-1940
In this panel, our artists reflect on Luna Park’s golden era of the 1930s-40s—a time of escapism, romance, and thrill. With the quote ‘To ride the Big Dipper is to add a new chapter to life’, anchoring the work, the mural overlays architectural drafts with collaged scenes of couples and friends immersed in the park’s playful charm.
Painted in a limited palette of tonal greys, yellows, and blacks, the piece echoes vintage posters while capturing the thrill of the Spider, the chaos of dodgem cars, and the mystery of the steamy River Caves. The work celebrates the park as a stage for social frivolity and youthful adventure—where laughter, motion, and connection blur into memory. It is a nostalgic ode to a time when joy was both spectacle and shared experience.
Panel 2: 1950-1960
This 1950s-1960s collaborative mural captures the nostalgic essence of Coney Island’s Mirror Maze, Arthur Barton’s whimsical performances, and the dizzying Rotor ride. Using a limited palette of tonal reds, oranges, and blacks, the artists evoke the heat, intensity, and theatrical energy of the park’s golden years.
Vintage portraiture of Funny Lane’s iconic faces inspires the mural’s expressive style, while dynamic imagery—clowns on unicycles, exaggerated aerodynamics, and a comical lion tamer—injects movement and humour. Together, these elements celebrate the absurd joy and kinetic spirit of Luna Park’s past, inviting viewers into a world where illusion and play collide.
Panel 3: 1970-1980
This collaborative mural reimagines Luna Park during its vibrant 1970s-80s era. Inspired by the hypnotic era of the 70s, artists such as Martin Sharp and Peter Kingston were commissioned to redecorate the park, which brought with it the colour and swirls of this era.
The park was devastated by the Ghost train fire that resulted in the death of six children and one adult, which led to the park’s closure. The 80s saw the ‘Friends of Luna Park’ led by a group of artists who staged public rallies to save the park. These artists showed the power of art as advocacy. This period can be defined by the iconic metaphor of the roller coaster.
Panel 4: 1990-2000
This panel explores Luna Park’s revival in the 1990s–2000s, a pivotal era marked by heritage, renewal, and cultural memory. Following its 1990 closure, the 1993 restoration—led by the Luna Park Reserve Trust—breathed new life into the park. Central to the mural is the reimagined entry face, modelled after Arthur Barton’s iconic 1950s pink face, now crowned with a radiant sunburst, symbolising renewal and welcome.
Painted in tones of green and blue, the mural layers archival images and playful scenes featuring the Carousel, Luna Bob, and Luna Belle. These elements reflect the park’s enduring magic and its place in public memory—a site where heritage meets imagination, and nostalgia merges with reinvention.
Panel 5: 2010-Now
This mural explores Luna Park from the 2010s to the present. For 90 years, Luna Park has defined Sydney's harbour, becoming an iconic landmark. The night lights of Luna Park and its face beaming across the harbour serve as a watchful eye, symbolizing the radiance and sophistication of modern-day Sydney.
A new generation of youth has come to love and enjoy Luna Park, appreciating its blend of historical significance and contemporary charm.
Panel 6: The Future
This panel explores the visions of students from a future-thinking workshop, where they envision future experiences and rides for Luna Park. Among these future visions are an Atom ride, an under-the-harbour sea life adventure, and environmental awareness rides.
The common themes from this workshop include a mix of technology, environmental, and futuristic experiences. Aquas, light purples, and pale blues are used to create a dreamlike future vision for Luna Park.
