The Melbourne Zoo Carousel is a restored Victorian era carousel (or merry-go-round) in Melbourne Zoo, Victoria, Australia. The carousel was manufactured in England in 1878 and then brought to Australia in 1886 by a family that ran a touring carnival, visiting country towns in Victoria. After touring with the carnival for over 60 years, in 1952 the carousel became part of a fun fair at the Melbourne Zoo, but was still owned by the same families. When the fun fair at the zoo was permanently closed in 1997, the carousel was purchased by the zoo. By that time, the carousel was in a deteriorated condition. It was restored off-site in 2004-2005 with funding from Heritage Victoria and re-opened in August 2005. The carousel is listed by Heritage Victoria as a heritage place.
| Melbourne Zoo Carousel | |
|---|---|
 Melbourne Zoo Carousel in 2012 | |
| Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | 1952 |
| Ride statistics | |
| Attraction type | Carousel |
| Manufacturer | Robert Tidman & Sons |
| Originally manufactured | 1878 |
| Website | www |
History
editThe carousel was manufactured by Robert Tidman and Sons of Norwich, England in 1878.[1][2][3] In that year, Robert and Frederick Tidman were granted a patent for the design of a carousel driven using bevel and spur gears, and powered by a small steam engine.[4]
The carousel was brought to Australia by John and Margaret Briggs in 1886.[2] The Briggs and Freeman families operated the carousel in a touring carnival, visiting country towns in Victoria for over 60 years.[5][6] In 1952, the carousel was established in a permanent home as part of a fun fair at Melbourne Zoo in Parkville. The carousel was installed in a former giraffe enclosure and was operated by Briggs and Freeman Entertainments.[5][7]
In February 1996, the carousel was listed by Heritage Victoria as a heritage place with VHR number 4738.[5]
By the late 1990s the carousel was in a deteriorated condition,[6] but remained as part of the fun fair until 1997, when the fair was closed. Melbourne Zoo purchased the carousel because of its historic connection with the zoo, but the rest of the fun fair was sold off.[7]
Restoration
editBy 2004, a project to restore the carousel was underway, with funding from Heritage Victoria.[8] The main mechanical restoration work was carried out in Castlemaine,[9] but an artist Patricia Mullins undertook the repainting of the carousel horses in a studio in Fitzroy.[10][11] The restoration included new paintings and surrounds for the rounding boards.[12] Following completion of the restoration, the carousel was re-opened on 7 August 2005,[11] after being off-site for six years. Dorrie Freeman from the original owner's family was present at the re-opening.[13]
Description
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The carousel rotates clock-wise, typical of English-made carousels. It has a three abreast configuration of 30 carved horses,[13] along with two replica fibreglass elephants.[5] The original horses were made by G & J Lines, London, and 20 of these remain. The 10 outside row horses were replaced in the 1970s with German-made horses, also from the late 19th century.[1][14][15] The centre panels of the carousel feature etched glass mirrors, with carved floral decorations above.[16]
The carousel was originally powered by a Tidman centre-mounted steam engine. The Tidman engine was refurbished during the restoration and remains in place, but is not operational.[17]
A custom-made modern enclosure with transparent plastic curtains protects the carousel from the weather.[18]
References
edit- ^ a b "Melbourne Zoo Carousel". National Carousel Association. Archived from the original on 27 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Melbourne Zoo and You: 150 years". Victorian Collections. Archived from the original on 27 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "Robert Tidman and Sons - Graces Guide". www.gracesguide.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ Gieseler, Albert. "Robert Tidman & Sons, Bishop Bridge Iron Works". Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Carousel - Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens, Elliott Avenue, Parkville, Melbourne City". Victorian Heritage Database. Archived from the original on 27 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ a b Plant, Simon (6 August 2005). "Doing the rounds". Herald Sun. p. W07. ProQuest 360673254.
- ^ a b Jellie, Dugald (25 April 1997). "Zoo's carnival is over; Fun fairs: End of an era". The Age. p. C4. ProQuest 2521807830.
- ^ Ryan, Kelly (21 April 2004). "A ride back to . . . the 19th century coming around again". Herald Sun. p. 40. ProQuest 360518709.
- ^ Edmonds, Mike; Dennehy, Luke; Danaher, Carla (16 August 2004). "Round goes merry steed". Herald Sun. p. 22. ProQuest 360567770.
- ^ Pallisco, Marc (30 September 2007). "Booking a heritage change". Sunday Age. p. 2. ProQuest 367276691.
- ^ a b Plant, Simon (6 August 2005). "Happily along for ride". Herald Sun. p. 17. ProQuest 360681968.
- ^ "Melbourne Zoo Carousel - Rounding board detail". National Carousel Association. Archived from the original on 27 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ a b Metlikovec, Jane (8 August 2005). "Grand horses run full circle". Herald Sun. p. 15. ProQuest 360687369.
- ^ "Melbourne Zoo Carousel - German outside row jumper and Lines inside row jumpers - rear view". National Carousel Association. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ "Melbourne Zoo Carousel - German outside row jumper and Lines inside row jumpers - side view". National Carousel Association. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ "Melbourne Zoo Carousel - Original upper and crown centre panels". National Carousel Association. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ "Melbourne Zoo Carousel - Original Tidman steam engine". National Carousel Association. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ "Melbourne Zoo Carousel - housing". National Carousel Association. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
External links
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- Melbourne Zoo Carousel at YouTube