History
The park was opened in 1975 by Gough Whitlam. It was developed by architect Frank Fox with the help of the Federal Government and the Bank of NSW. The Wran state government took over the federal investment shortly after the Fraser government took power at the end of 1975.
During its lifetime, the park had 6 million visitors .
When the park was closed in 2003, the operators blamed the closure partly on what they called the "instant gratification" generation that demands computer games and thrill-rides, rather than a leisurely stroll through history.
Since the park closed to the public it has been let for movie shoots.
In February 2012 residents of the Central Coast banded together and formed a committee to re-open the park and several Facebook pages were started.
In February 2013 the Daily Telegraph reported that the family of Frank Fox, were in negotiations with the current lease holders about reviving the town.
Read more about this topic: Old Sydney Town
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“Tell me of the height of the mountains of the moon, or of the diameter of space, and I may believe you, but of the secret history of the Almighty, and I shall pronounce thee mad.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Certainly there is not the fight recorded in Concord history, at least, if in the history of America, that will bear a moment’s comparison with this, whether for the numbers engaged in it, or for the patriotism and heroism displayed.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“There is a constant in the average American imagination and taste, for which the past must be preserved and celebrated in full-scale authentic copy; a philosophy of immortality as duplication. It dominates the relation with the self, with the past, not infrequently with the present, always with History and, even, with the European tradition.”
—Umberto Eco (b. 1932)