Luna Park has languished and declined in status in recent years. Photo: Visit Victoria.
The Victorian Government is set to invest in Luna Park, one of the state’s most recognisable buildings and a key tourism attraction.
The 2025/26 budget will invest $5 million in an effort to return the venue to its former position as the jewel in the Victorian tourism crown, vital to bringing in interstate travellers, international tourists and the state’s families.
A staple of the capital city for decades, the Palace Building was home to attractions such as the Penny Arcade and the dodgem cars, yet in recent years it has languished in disrepair. The Melbourne icon has suffered a significant fall from grace and has been closed to the public for safety reasons in recent times.
A funding injection for the arcade space and function venue intends to reopen sections of the park and expand its ability to host events, creating a new revenue source to sustain the park into the future.
The $5 million in state funds is being contributed alongside $17 million from the site manager, Luna Park Melbourne. Works are already underway and the Palace Building is expected to open before Christmas.
“Luna Park is an important part of Melbourne’s history, and with the help of this funding it can not only return to its former glory but grow and thrill new generations,’’ Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos said.
“We are so lucky to have places like this in Melbourne which are nationally and internationally significant and we are proud to make sure it continues to be a family favourite for locals and international visitors to our great state.”
About 800,000 people visit the park annually, supporting more than 250 jobs, to say nothing of the visitors drawn to the surrounding businesses and the city in general.
Luna Park is a cultural symbol of Melbourne and one of the few heritage amusement parks left on earth. It has 20 rides in operation, including the carousel, built in 1913.
