''Fairyland Pleasure Ground'' was a former recreation and picnic area on the
Lane Cove River
The Lane Cove River, a northern tributary of the Parramatta River, is a tide-dominated, drowned valley estuary west of Sydney Harbour, located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The river is a tributary of the Parramatta River, winding thro ...
indigenous Australian people
Indigenous Australians or Australian First Nations are people with familial heritage from, and membership in, the ethnic groups that lived in Australia before British colonisation. They consist of two distinct groups: the Aboriginal peoples ...
, the Cammeraygal occupied the area east of the river for at least 5,800 years. The Wallumettagal people were located west of the river.Fact Sheet 8 – Chatswood West – Willoughby City CouncilFairyland Site Assessment - Tony Butteriss, 2006 The original area was relatively flat and swampy. Vegetated mostly by
eucalyptus
''Eucalyptus'' () is a genus of over seven hundred species of flowering trees, shrubs or mallees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Along with several other genera in the tribe Eucalypteae, including '' Corymbia'', they are commonly known as e ...
bracken
Bracken (''Pteridium'') is a genus of large, coarse ferns in the family Dennstaedtiaceae. Ferns (Pteridophyta) are vascular plants that have alternating generations, large plants that produce spores and small plants that produce sex cells (eggs ...
paperbark
''Melaleuca'' () is a genus of nearly 300 species of plants in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, commonly known as paperbarks, honey-myrtles or tea-trees (although the last name is also applied to species of ''Leptospermum''). They range in size f ...
.Brian A. Scott, "The Business of the Lane Cove River". , page 151-152
Swan Family and Fairyland
Illegal logging
Illegal logging is the harvest, transportation, purchase or sale of timber in violation of laws. The harvesting procedure itself may be illegal, including using corruption, corrupt means to gain access to forests; extraction without permission, o ...
occurred at the Fairyland site as early as 1834. By 1847 at least ten people were listed as living in the area.Fairyland Site Assessment - Tony Butteriss, 2006 In 1895, the state government sold blocks of land beside the river. Robert Joshua Campbell Swan (1864 - 1943) and other family members purchased Portions 385 and 386 of Field of Mars for £141.Brian A. Scott, "The Business of the Lane Cove River". , page 151-152 Around 1900, the natural forest country was cleared for agriculture by the Swan family. Many different crops were grown including strawberries and watermelons.
New Zealand flax
New Zealand flax describes the common New Zealand perennial plants ''Phormium tenax'' and ''Phormium colensoi'', known by the Māori names ''harakeke'' and ''wharariki'' respectively. Although given the common name 'flax' they are quite distinc ...
was grown to tie parcels of fruit. By 1905 the property had acquired a name, "The Rest". Between 1905 and 1910 the market gardens were phased out.
After noticing the success of the Avenue Pleasure Grounds downstream at the Fig Tree Bridge and the Fern Bay Pleasure Grounds at
Drummoyne
Drummoyne is a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Drummoyne is six kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative center for the local government area of the Ci ...
, the Swan family then changed the area for recreation.
They planted exotic plant species such as the camphor laurel and date palm. Placing painted
fairytale
A fairy tale (alternative names include fairytale, fairy story, magic tale, or wonder tale) is a short story that belongs to the folklore genre. Such stories typically feature magic, enchantments, and mythical or fanciful beings. In most cul ...
figures on trees, and carved fairy like wooden figures were placed in the grounds, such as
Little Bo Peep
"Little Bo-Peep" or "Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep" is a popular English language nursery rhyme. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 6487.
Lyrics and melody
As with most products of oral tradition, there are many variations to the rhy ...
. There was a slippery-dip in the shape of a sleeping giant, supposedly based on the character "Brutus" from
Popeye
Popeye the Sailor Man is a fictional cartoon character created by Elzie Crisler Segar.
Access to the ground was mostly by ferry. A wharf was built on the river. Some boats would take up to 70 passengers at a time.National Parks & Wildlife Service of New South Wales - Information sign at Fairyland Two of the craft regularly visiting Fairylands were the Escort and the Twilight. In 1918, when the Upper Lane Cove River Ferry Company closed, Fairyland acquired some of their ferries to be part of Fairyland's operations. Church groups, schools, companies and families used the area for picnics and recreation.Brian A. Scott, "The Business of the Lane Cove River". , page 151-152
Equipment & Dance Hall
A kiosk, and much playground equipment was installed, such as a
flying fox
''Pteropus'' (suborder Yinpterochiroptera) is a genus of megabats which are among the largest bats in the world. They are commonly known as fruit bats or flying foxes, among other colloquial names.
They live in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Aust ...
, swings and a wooden pirate ship. The "razzle-dazzle" was a popular circular ride, originating from White City Pleasure Grounds at
Rushcutters Bay
Rushcutters Bay is a harbourside eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia 3 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Sydney.
The suburb of Rushcutters ...
as was the flying fox and ticket boxes.Brian A. Scott, "The Business of the Lane Cove River". , page 151-152 The ride was said to emulate an ocean voyage, built in 1914. From White city, Robert Swan also acquired strength-testing machines and coin-operated machines through which customers could view silent films. Six boat swings came from Putney Park. A dance hall was built around 1930. Also around that time, netting was installed around a small sandy beach on the river for swimming.Brian A. Scott, "The Business of the Lane Cove River". , page 151-152
Certain dancers were known to take a train to Chatswood, then walk downhill to the eastern side of the river, then call for boats to take them across the river to the dance hall. After the construction of
Fullers Bridge
Fullers Bridge, officially called the Fullers Creek Bridge, is a road bridge that carries Delhi Road to Millwood Avenue across the Lane Cove River, in , Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The concrete beam bridge is located northwest of the ...
, a road was built down from Delhi road. Parking was available for 120 cars. In wet weather, the parking area became soaked, with cars being bogged.Fairyland Site Assessment - Tony Butteriss, 2006National Parks & Wildlife Service of New South Wales - Information sign at Fairyland
Closure
In the mid 20th century, Fairyland lost much of its popular appeal. Particularly with the expanding suburbs of Sydney, the diminishing remoteness, the rise of the motor car and the opening of the Epping Road bridge. After a series of floods in 1967, 1968 and 1969 Fairyland closed.Brian A. Scott, "The Business of the Lane Cove River". , page 151-152 The area was purchased by the National Parks of New South Wales in the late 1970s. Little evidence of the park exists today, particularly after the severe fires of 1994. The access road off Delhi Road is currently closed, overgrown and barely recognizable. A pair of rusted gate holders and some
asphalt
Asphalt, also known as bitumen (, ), is a sticky, black, highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It may be found in natural deposits or may be a refined product, and is classed as a pitch. Before the 20th century, the term ...
are all that remain.
After the area was abandoned,
invasive weeds
An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species adv ...
have been particularly troublesome. Much work by bush regenerators has continued into the 21st century. Today, the 42 hectare area is home to three Endangered Ecological Communities. Notable wildlife so close to the city of Sydney here includes the
Powerful Owl
The powerful owl (''Ninox strenua''), a species of owl native to south-eastern and eastern Australia, is the largest owl on the continent. It is found in coastal areas and in the Great Dividing Range, rarely more than inland. The IUCNRed List ...
,
Osprey
The osprey (''Pandion haliaetus''), , also called sea hawk, river hawk, and fish hawk, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey with a cosmopolitan range. It is a large raptor reaching more than in length and across the wings. It is brown o ...
and
Echidna
Echidnas (), sometimes known as spiny anteaters, are quill-covered monotremes (egg-laying mammals) belonging to the family Tachyglossidae . The four extant species of echidnas and the platypus are the only living mammals that lay eggs and the ...
. Fairyland is on the
Great North Walk
The Great North Walk is a walking track which runs from Sydney to Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia. The main track, in length, runs between the Obelisk in Macquarie Place in Sydney to Queens Wharf in Bicentennial Park in Newcastle and ...
.National Parks & Wildlife Service of New South Wales - Information sign at Fairyland