Daily Photo – Luna Park in Melbourne
I spent the morning riding free trams around Melbourne and, with absolutely no plans for the day beyond having to be in the suburb of Brunswick late in the afternoon, I decided to get on a tram that said it was going to St Kilda. Not having the faintest idea what was in St Kilda, or how long it would take to get there, I settled in for a leisurely ride across Melbourne as the tram rattled from side to side, and some time later, after the property prices had clearly taken a substantial leap skyward, I decided I must have arrived.
On the way, as the scenery passed, I noticed a sign advertising ‘Luna Park’. This I found curious, as I thought Luna Park was only a Sydney thing. However, it turns out I was wrong. The clue was the giant, toothy grimace of the Mr Moon entrance to the park that left me wondering if he was welcoming me or considering having me for lunch. It’s a face that has seen a lot of things since 1912, even if it is a slightly unsettling smile.
The origin of Melbourne’s iconic Mr Moon entrance face traces back to the shores of New York, when a handful of ambitious showmen designed the concept of entering a theme park through a giant gaping mouth. It was pioneered at Luna Park on Coney Island, New York, which opened in 1903, and the creators of Melbourne’s park wanted to replicate the wild success of the New York original.
When the Melbourne version was built in 1912, it was thought of as “illusionistic” architecture, and the giant face was designed to immediately transport visitors out of their everyday lives and into a world of fantasy, nonsense, and fun.
Curious for more? Explore more from a Small City.
