Old Sydney Town was an Australian open-air museum and theme park which operated from 1975 until 2003 in Somersby on the New South Wales Central Coast. Once a living tribute to the early years of Sydney's colonial settlement in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, it was complete with historical reenactments and authentic construction methods. The site is now used as a location for film and television production. It borders the Australian Reptile Park.
Robert Hughes, author of The Fatal Shore called the site "the only theme park in the world devoted to punishment and repression."
During its lifetime, the park had 6 million visitors.
History
Development
Old Sydney Town was initially developed by architect Frank Fox after he was inspired by a trip to Colonial Williamsburg, in the United States. While Fox had originally set out to create an Australian Disney Land, his experience at Williamsburg and the terrain of his Somersby site inspired him to recreate Sydney Cove in 1810.
Fox and his family spent four years researching the pre-Macquarie period for the site. Initial preparations saw the site's creek dammed to create a makeshift Sydney Cove.
Robert Irving, a senior lecturer at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) headed up the site's permanent four person research team, and assigned his 1972 first year architecture cohort with designing and erecting the site's first buildings as a mandatory component of their studies.Students had to pay for their accomodation and were required to stay on the site for two weeks of practical work without compensation. The UNSW Student Union Council condemned the Faculty of Architecture for it's use of unpaid labour for a commercial enterprise. The general architecture cohort's response to the project was mixed; some students were excited for the opportunity to bond with their peers, have unique experiences and learn new skills while others derided the working conditions, relevancy to their studies and lack of pay.
Initial plans were for development of the site's 80 planned structures to continue into the park's operation, with historically accurate construction techniques becoming part of the attraction. At Old Sydney Town's peak, it employed a range of specialised tradespeople like a thatcher, blacksmith and shipwright, to help the maintain the site's authenticity. It was also home to the only mechanical shingle maker in Australia.
Two boats were converted to be period replicas for the site; one of the first Brig built in Sydney, the Perseverance and the HMS Lady Nelson (1798).
The Australian Government announced it would purchase a 25.5% equity in Old Sydney Town on 22nd April, 1974. They joined Frank R. Fox's Developments and Bank of New South Wales (Westpac) as investors in the attraction. Frank Stewart, Minister for Tourism and Recreation, stated the venture would be "a focal point for recreation and learning about Australia's past".
Operation
The park began admission on the 27th of November 1974, before being officially opened on 26 January 1975, by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.
Upon entry visitors would walk through a tunnel that would 'transport' them back to the past. In addition to the site's colonial buildings, staff members were dressed in period-accurate costumes and depicted of soldiers, convicts, teachers, villagers, shop attendants and town criers. Several staff were assigned the roles of colonial figures like Samuel Marsden, Lt. William Dawes and Elizabeth Rafferty.
Activities included historical re-enactments like convicts being flogged and thrown in the stocks, pistol duels and a convict rebellion. People were invited to partake in feeding farm animal, bullock rides, and interactive classrooms. Visitors could purchase handmade goods from the tinsmith, leathermaker, potter and the candlestickmaker. On occaision Bush dances would be held in the site's wool shed. The park's program was particularly popular amongst families and schools.
In November 1975, the Federal Government approved a $200,000 loan to the site to allow it's operations to continue until after the December Federal Election. This increased the Government's loans to the park to $1.9 million. The Whitlam Government expressed concern for the project's management and stated it was "grossly undercapitalised". While Whitlam had earlier sought to invest $3.5m into the site over 3 years, expanding the government's equity share to nearly 75%, negotiations faltered and Fox Developments had withdrawn from the restructuring agreement.