30/10/2023
I've received numerous inquiries regarding the Bush Beast and Beastie Trains 🚂. Questions about their current location, whether they can be visited, and what has happened to them since the park's closure. To address all these questions, here is a timeline detailing the journey of the trains from the moment the park closed to their current location, and yes, you can go and visit them 📍.
April 25, 2004: Wonderland closed permanently 😢.
June 2004: A heritage order for the Bush Beast was submitted to the Blacktown Council 📜.
June 16, 2004: The yellow Bush Beast train was spotted at the top of the lift hill 🎢.
August 2004: A total of 14 Bush Beast and 10 Beastie carriages were moved to the maintenance area by Wonderland maintenance staff 👷♀️.
September 2004: The Bush Beast and Beastie carriages were relocated to the back paddock behind the Minchinbury Reservoir 🌳.
March 31, 2005: A cyclone fence was erected around the Bush Beast while the Heritage Order was under review by the Blacktown Council 🚧.
Saturday, August 27, 2005: At 19 years, 9 months, and 23 days old—half of its expected lifespan—the Bush Beast was demolished 💔. However, the trains remained on the property outside the demolition zone, behind Minchinbury Reservoir.
January 2006: The Bush Beast and Beastie trains were sold and relocated to an undisclosed location 🚚.
January 27, 2006: An advertisement for "PTC Doubles in good condition, well maintained, just removed from a functioning coaster. 17 large cars (4 seaters), available for global shipping. $3,000 each or best offer" appeared on UsedRides[dot]com 💻.
January 2011: Members of Wonderland History discovered the Bush Beast and Beastie trains at O’Neill’s Adventureland, a small amusement park in Edmondson Park, New South Wales, Australia 🇦🇺.
June 21, 2012: Representatives from Wonderland History visited O’Neill’s Adventureland to discuss acquiring the Bush Beast and Beastie trains 🤝.
January 24, 2013: After a public fundraising campaign within the Wonderland History Facebook group, Wonderland History successfully purchased all four trains 🎉. Thank you to everyone who contributed! The trains were subsequently transported from O’Neill’s Adventureland to a temporary holding site in Londonderry 🚛.
July 14, 2013: A photo shoot with the donors who helped save the trains was held at Londonderry (photo below/above this post) 📸.
February 11, 2015: The trains were once again on the move, this time to the Wonderland History storage facility at Rooty Hill, (one of our admin's backyards) 🏠.
March 2018: Fourteen years post-operation at Wonderland, the trains found their final home at Artisans Park in Bathurst 🏞. Here, they are undergoing restoration and will be displayed permanently. Artisans Park is also constructing a station and a section of track to enable the trains to be rolled out for photo opportunities 📷.
A HUGE thank you to everyone involved in this extensive process; we successfully saved the Bush Beast and Beastie Trains! 👏 You can show your gratitude and support Artisans Park’s efforts by visiting the Bush Beast and Beastie Trains during your stay, be it for a weekend or an entire week 🎟️.
Artisans Park 📍
214 Box Ridge Rd, Turondale NSW 2795
Phone: 0438 893 998 📞
Speak to Glenn McMaster and enjoy your stay.
