Luna Park Melbourne’s historic Carousel secures prestigious award

Luna Park Melbourne’s 1913 Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel (PTC#30) has secured the esteemed Historical Carousel Award by the National Carousel Association (NCA) of the USA.

This prestigious recognition celebrates Luna Park Melbourne’s commitment to preserving, maintaining, and ensuring the future of one of the world’s most treasured carousels.

Luna Park Melbourne Chief Executive, Nathan Klassen noted “this award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of all those who have contributed to the preservation of our iconic carousel. We are honoured to receive this recognition from the National Carousel Association and proud to share this piece of history with our visitors.”

The PTC#30 Carousel is a true masterpiece of craftsmanship with a unique history, originally commissioned for Sydney’s White City Amusement Park in 1913 before finding its permanent home at Luna Park Melbourne in 1923. As the only PTC carousel ever exported, it remains a remarkable example of early 20th-century amusement park artistry.

Patricia Mullins, an artist renowned for her expertise in wooden horse restoration and knowledge of carousel history, played a key role in the major project. As Artistic Director, she oversaw the three-year restoration of the carousel from 1999-2021, researched its history and documented paint findings. The heritage objective was to retain and protect the extensive original fabric of the historic carousel, plus all evidence of original paint.

All aspects of the carousel were assessed for repair work and restoration – from mechanical problems and safety requirements to damage from pigeon infestation in the roof and sinking foundations. The carousel was completely disassembled so that essential work could be carried out by a range of experts.

Conservators from Conservation Services NSW worked onsite for five months, investigating and recording all parts of the large wooden carousel. Included were original scenery paintings, remarkably intact, plus rounding boards with 36 plaster cherubs. Then began the research and reconstruction of the carousel’s original PTC colour scheme on each of the 68 horses, 18 rounding boards, ceiling panels and decorative stencilled areas.

Interpreting this information, under guidance from top US carousel restorer Rosa Patton, Mullins made detailed, interpretive working coloured drawings for each horse, the chariots and rounds boards ensuring all were historically correct. The NCA provided PTC black and white studio photos showing 10 of the newly made PTC #30 horses before they left the US for Australia in 1913. The images were invaluable for showing the decorative detail that had largely been lost on those outside row horses.

Mullins, with her team of four skilled artisans at Equus Art, were responsible for returning the 68 horses to their incredibly elaborate 1913 decorative splendour…a real surprise after decades of all being painted white! The limited palette of original colours found were matched while silver and gold leaf gilding, often colour glazed, were applied to the trappings as they had been originally.

Traditional hand-painting was paramount, and extensive lining and scrolling was replicated by expert Philip Berry. Natural horse body colours were carefully blended and dappled by Mullins, bringing back the pintos, blacks, greys, creams, dapples and palominos, all hand-painted, achieving their original, individual appearances. Finally, several coats of an American varnish, recommended by Rosa Patton, were applied to all horses.

Mullins and Berry continue to maintain the horses today.

In 2007, the façade of the Carousel’s rare Limonaire Frères organ, c 1909, was conserved with State Government funding and the original French Paintings were revealed. The organ’s timber framework was restored, and then the painted and gilded decoration reconstructed. All work was carried out by Conservation Services and Equus Art.

Luna Park Melbourne invites all carousel lovers and history enthusiasts to come and celebrate this incredible achievement. Step back in time and experience the charm, artistry, and joy of a truly historic treasure.

For more information, visit www.lunapark.com.au and www.carousels.org/psp/Melbourne/ 

Images. Luna Park Melbourne Carousel. The NCA provided PTC black and white studio photos showing 10 of the newly made PTC #30 horses before they left the US for Australia in 1913. The images were invaluable for showing the decorative detail that had largely been lost on those outside row horses. “NCA photo show”