NSW Police offer $1 million reward in appeal for evidence over Luna Park Sydney Ghost Train fire

The NSW Government has today announced a $1 million reward for any information on the 1979 fire that claimed the lives of six boys and a man on its Ghost Train ride.

Following new evidence on the circumstances surrounding the fire having recently been presented in an ABC documentary, the reward is being offered for new information surrounding the tragedy.

At the time NSW Police ruled the tragedy was due to a mechanical malfunction but allegations have since been made that the fire was in fact arson and linked to the Sydney underworld.

With NSW homicide detectives currently reviewing all evidence on the fatal blaze, NSW Police Minister David Elliott announced “it's been an ongoing concern for NSW Police so far, as the investigation and they have never given up in making sure that the families of the victims of this tragedy have closure.

"The passage of time has made it just that little bit more difficult for us to get evidence and that is why I am appealing to members of the public."

NSW Police Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said there remained "question marks" over how the fire started, stating “over the four decades or so, there has been a number of investigations, a number of internal investigations and to date there are questions marks in relation to how that fire started.”

The fire erupted inside the Ghost Train ride about 10:15pm on 9th June 1979.

The ABC investigation unearthed several overlapping accounts from key witnesses who said they smelt kerosene, an accelerant, when the fire started.

Three key new witnesses have spoken out to support claims the cause of the fatal 1979 Luna Park Ghost Train fire was arson.

With allegations over the conduct of the NSW Police at that time, Minister Elliot added “how the police force ran operations in 1979 compared to how they run them in 2021 are chalk and cheese and we certainly have a much more professional police force in this century

"We wait of course for the ABC to provide us with the information they gathered with their investigation."

The ABC has provided police with transcripts, documentation and footage from the documentary series but NSW Police are seeking unedited copies.

Detective Superintendent Doherty noted “w're negotiating with the legal team with the ABC, they're cooperating fully and they've got an extension for the coronial order which was granted till the 20th of July.”

In a statement, an ABC spokesperson said the broadcaster wanted "justice to be served" for the victims and their families.

The statement explained “the ABC is cooperating fully with the NSW Coroner and NSW Police reviews regarding the fire, while ensuring confidential sources in the EXPOSED investigation are protected

"Last month a majority of the Upper House of the NSW Parliament voted in support of an independent special commission of inquiry to investigate the Luna Park fire and the subsequent police investigation. This is a welcome development."

Image: The aftermath of the 1979  Ghost Train fire at Luna Park Sydney.