ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
A Sydney man has realised nothing good has happened since the closure of Sega World in Darling Harbour.
Sega World, an indoor theme park, shut its doors on November 12, 2000. It was a haven for the city’s freaks and youngsters alike, featuring state-of-the-art arcade games, VR experiences, and themed rides. For many, it was a symbol of Sydney’s vibrant optimism for the future in the afterglow of the 2000 Olympic Games.
Rhett Mowse, a 38-year-old ‘M-person’ from the Hills District who has typical Sydney features like a massive mouth and wide-set eyes, is one of those who miss the old Sydney.
“They call me a M-person because I commute on M-roads. But I remember going to Sega World as a kid, we’d get the train in. It was the highlight of every school holiday,” he says.
“Since it closed down, I feel like Sydney has lost a bit of its magic. The world has lost. bit of magic.”
Rhett isn’t alone in his nostalgia. Other iconic Sydney attractions that have faded into memory include the Monorail and Wonderland Sydney. The Sydney Monorail, which opened in 1988, was an iconic part of the city’s skyline. It provided a unique, elevated view of the city as it looped through Darling Harbour, Chinatown, and the central business district. Despite its popularity, the Monorail was dismantled in 2013, because it was expensive and a “fucking useless cunt of a thing” according to then-NSW Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian .
“I used to love riding the Monorail,” Rhett recalls.
“It’s a shame they tore it down. It was like a QUILTBAG (Queer/Questioning, Undecided, Intersex, Lesbian, Trans (Transgender/Transsexual), Bisexual, Asexual, and/or Gay/Genderqueer) version of the light rail.”
Wonderland Sydney, another cherished memory, was a sprawling amusement park located in Eastern Creek. Opening in 1985, it boasted thrilling roller coasters, water rides and friendly white families. Wonderland closed its gates in 2004 due to declining visitor numbers and Islamic terrorism.
“Wonderland was the place to be when I was growing up,” says Rhett.
“It was closer to home than the city and it had everything – rides, shows, even caged animals for us to throw bits of our lunch at. I spent countless weekends there with family and friends. When it closed, western civilisation regressed.”
As Sydney continues it’s shift from global city to weeping anal fissure, many residents like Rhett find themselves thinking about the past.
“Fuck this place, it’s over. There’s no magic anymore. Just fat Boomers and their cunt children trading property.”
More to come.
