1979 Sydney Ghost Train fire

1979 Sydney Ghost Train fire

Memorial plaque at Luna Park Sydney in remembrance of those who died in the fire
Date	9 June 1979 (1979-06-09)
Venue	Luna Park Sydney
Location	Milsons Point, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates	33°50′54″S151°12′35″E / 33.848343°S 151.209756°E / -33.848343; 151.209756
Type	Fire
Cause	Cause disputed: Electrical fault (June 1979 NSW Police investigation) Inconclusive, probable ignition of flammable litter by patron's discarded cigarette or match (September 1979 NSW Coroner's Court)
Deaths	7

The Sydney Ghost Train fire at Luna Park Sydney in Milsons Point, New South Wales, Australia killed seven people (six children and one adult) on 9 June 1979. Inadequate fire-fighting measures and low staffing allowed the fire to completely destroy the amusement park's ghost train. ^[1]

The fire was originally blamed on electrical faults, and the exact cause could not be determined by a coronial inquiry. The coroner also ruled that, while the actions of Luna Park's management and staff before and during the fire (in particular their decision not to follow advice on the installation of a fire sprinkler system in the ride) breached their duty of care, charges of criminal negligence should not be laid. The case was reopened in 1987 but no new findings were made, although the original police investigation and coronial inquiry were criticised.

Over the years there have been claims of arson ordered by Abe Saffron. This theory was researched exhaustively by artist Martin Sharp, himself long associated with the park. Sharp obsessively collected evidence on the fire for many years, dedicating an entire room of his house to an archive of "documents, court records, government reports, newspaper clippings, photographs and hundreds of hours of cassette tape recordings, which were stories about the fire he taped off the radio and conversations and musings with people who had information and theories about the cause of the fire." ^[2] Sharp also used the incident as the basis for many paintings and art exhibitions, as well as his film Street of Dreams which documented a performance by Tiny Tim at the park several months before the fire, the history of both Tiny's life and the park in general, the fire and Sharp's perceived religious and theological links between all of these topics.

Saffron passed away in 2006, and since then at least two of his relatives have substantiated claims of his involvement in the fire. Sharp died in 2013, having never released Street of Dreams which remains an unfinished film although a rough cut circulates online.

In 2021, the ABC released the documentary Exposed: The Ghost Train Fire which used evidence collected by Sharp as well as freshly obtained accounts of witnesses. The ABC's investigation concluded that Saffron was responsible for the fire, and that the NSW Police had conspired with then-Premier Neville Wran to cover it up. This led to public demand for a second formal investigation and the formation of Task Force Sedgeman. The ABC later walked back the claims against Wran but stood by the rest of the series.

As of late 2024, the matter is back before the courts with the potential for a second coroner's inquest. ^[3]

Ride

The Ghost Train, circa 1955.

The Ghost Train was one of Luna Park's opening day attractions. Located between Big Dipper's station and the River Caves, the building housing it was originally built as a storeroom for equipment awaiting installation after arriving from Luna Park Glenelg. ^[4] Architectural plans of the Ghost Train are held at the State Library of New South Wales. ^[5]

The looped recording that attracted guests to the ride promised "the creepiest spine-tingling ride of your life", adding:

You'll shiver and quake... on the Ghost Train!

Cars would enter through a door reading "Hell's Doorway." Many twists and turns in pitch black then followed, yanking passengers along a 180-metre electric track. Most of the ride was pitch black. The ride was lined with dancing skeletons, an ape monster, a dragon's head, Dracula in a graveyard and a skeleton in a box. The ride also featured a fake fireplace which, according to witnesses, is where the actual fire originated. ^[6]

Fire

On the night of 9 June 1979, Jennifer and John Godson, and their two children Damien and Craig, were visiting Sydney on holiday from Warren in regional New South Wales. Before boarding a ferry to Luna Park at Circular Quay, a man dressed in a "loincloth and wearing a mask with horns" approached Damian Godson for unknown reasons and silently placed a hand on his shoulder. Jennifer Godson then took a photo, which ended up being the last of Damian while alive. The man has never been identified. While at Luna Park, the Godson children rode the Ghost Train once but insisted on going again. At around 10pm, Jennifer decided to buy ice creams for the family but returned to find that Damien, Craig and John had all boarded the Ghost Train without her. Five students from Waverley College were also on the ride at that time - Jonathan Billings, Richard Carroll, Michael Johnson, Seamus Rahilly and Jason Holman - on a rare independent outing, having spent the earlier part of the day "playing rugby and attending church." ^[7]

Fire broke out inside the ride at approximately 10:15 pm. Around thirty-five people were believed to have been on the ride when thick smoke began to escape from the tunnel doors. ^[8] The fire began within an imitation fireplace that typically had paper "flames." Witness Sue Manning, then 19, held out her hand while riding past the imitation fireplace but quickly pulled it back, observing that it felt warm like a real fire. After they finished the ride, she then saw a carriage emerge that was empty and on fire. Minutes later, the ride was engulfed in flames. ^[6] Another witness, Betty Schultz, then 14, recalled it was dark inside except for a fire "about the size of a shoebox". She added "I just thought it was part of the attraction, I didn't realise that it was a real fire happening." ^[6] Other witnesses on the ride at the time believed the artificial fire display (using coloured lights and a fan to make flapping strips of material look like flames) seemed to include actual flames, but did not immediately recognize the severity of the threat and thus did not notify ride operators when they disembarked. Other witnesses who entered the Ghost Train soon after, smelled smoke straightaway and saw an uncontained fire spreading rapidly within the narrow confines of the ride. These witnesses frantically tried to warn a ride operator to stop further cars from entering the ride, just as he was permitting the final few cars to proceed, joining others that were already inside. ^[9] Other evacuated passengers reported seeing empty cars exit the tunnel on fire. ^[10]

Staff raised the alarm and began to pull people from the ride as their cars exited the tunnel. ^[8] Due to a combination of low water pressure, under-staffing within the park, and inadequate coverage of the Ghost Train by the park's fire hose system, the fire completely consumed the ride. ^{[1] [11]} It took an hour to bring the fire under control, but it was extinguished before any significant damage could be done to the adjacent River Caves and Big Dipper. ^{[11] [8]}

John, Damian and Craig Godson perished in the fire, leaving the surviving Jennifer Godson in immense shock at the sudden loss of her husband and children. Billings, Carroll, Johnson and Rahilly also died, leaving survivor Holman from the group as he was removed from the ride at the last minute. ^{[7] [11] [8]} Most of the ride was destroyed, leaving behind burnt-out cars and "a painting of a leering skeleton." ^[12]

Initial investigation

Luna Park was shut down immediately after the incident for a federal investigation. ^{[1] [8]} The fire was initially blamed on an "electrical fault" by NSW Police, who immediately ruled out arson. ^[13] It was also speculated that the seven dead had climbed out of their cars and unsuccessfully tried to find their way out of the tunnel and may have survived had they stayed in the cars. ^[8] An inquest was held in the Coroner's Court of New South Wales from 13 to 29 August 1979 in the Sydney suburb of Glebe before coroner Kevin Sidney Anderson. ^[14] Anderson issued his findings on 3 September 1979. ^[14] He found that "The cause of the fire cannot conclusively be stated", and accepted expert testimony that the ride's permanent wiring and attractions were unlikely to be the source of ignition –but could not be completely excluded. ^[14] Having heard from witnesses that ride patrons often ignored no smoking signs and "had the habit of discarding food wrapping and other litter", Anderson stated that while "the most probable cause of the fire was ignition of flammable litter by a cigarette or match... discarded by a person riding on the train", he reiterated that "how the fire was ignited, the evidence adduced does not allow me to say". ^[14]

Anderson's inquiry examined issues beyond the source of ignition. He found that Luna Park's management had failed to develop an adequate fire suppression program despite recommendations by North Sydney Council and the fire department eighteen months earlier. ^[1] Anderson's report stated that while the park's owners and management had failed in their duty of care towards patrons, the failure was not "that high degree of negligence necessary to support a charge of criminal negligence". ^[15] The Government of New South Wales called for new tenders to operate the park on 31 July 1979. ^[16]

Before the fire, a Sydney design consultant stated that he had advised Luna Park management to install a sprinkler system in the Ghost Train in December 1977, following an inspection of the park for potential renovations. ^[8] The recommendation was not followed. ^{[1] [8]}

Subsequent events

1979-1984: Martin Sharp, Abe Saffron rumours and Street of Dreams

See also: Abe Saffron and Street of Dreams (Martin Sharp film)

Martin Sharp's 'Wirian' residence, in which an entire room filled with research into the fire remains today.

Artist Martin Sharp had been involved with Luna Park since being invited to redesign the face in 1973. Sharp was a passionate advocate for the park and was also fixated on the eccentric musician Tiny Tim, who played a ukulele and commanded a working knowledge of thousands of popular songs. In January 1979, Sharp brought Tiny to Australia to set the world record for the longest non-stop professional singing marathon in a concert at Luna Park.

Sharp witnessed the Ghost Train fire, having arrived at Luna Park around 11pm on the night after receiving a call from Arkie Whiteley. ^[17] This was a major turning point in his life that would consume his artistic practice and activism for the next three decades. Sharp began to document what he perceived as the many synchronicities and theological connections between Tiny Tim's performance and the fire, and also discovered that Abe Saffron had unsuccessfully attempted to buy Luna Park from owner Ted Hopkins several years before the fire. ^[11] Word then reached him from several people, including a park employee and someone with connections to Long Bay Correctional Centre, that Saffron had ordered the fire and the NSW Police had covered it up. Investigating further, Sharp began work on Street of Dreams , a new documentary film that would cover all of these topics - the life of Tiny Tim, the history of Luna Park, Tiny Tim's performance there, the fire, Sharp's religious beliefs, the perceived theological connections between these topics and evidence that Saffron was responsible for the fire.

Luna Park closed shortly after the fire and faced an uncertain future for many years as a result, opening and closing several times. Throughout the 1980s, Sharp led a group called Friends of Luna Park who attempted to save the park from permanent closure and redevelopment. In 1980, photographer Michael Barker was working with the Friends and helping to document the park in its closed state. He was killed in a hit and run incident in November of that year. His brother John, also a photographer working with Sharp, then claimed to receive an anonymous phone call that said "stop going to Martin Sharp's, or you'll end up like your brother." ^[18]

In 1984, Sharp curated an exhibition called Luna Images: The Face of Sydney at the Ivan Dougherty Gallery which included the name "Saffron" throughout various artworks. As Sharp's obsession with the fire escalated, he began to give equal weight to theological abstractions (such as instances of the number 666 in phone numbers, and the name Godson as "God-son") as more concrete evidence pertaining to the incident. He later told interviewers that he does not consider "one level more valid than another" ^[19] and that he felt responsible for the fire, having been involved in the park's restoration: "We made the place look safe, using our artistic talents. I feel that the artists could see things going wrong and we should have contacted the right people." ^[20]

1985-1987: Second investigation

In 1985, it was claimed by NSW MP Michael John Hatton that Saffron had beneficial ownership of the park, resulting in an inquiry which concluded that although people related to Saffron were involved in supplying pinball and arcade games to Luna Park, Saffron himself was not linked to the ownership of the park. ^[11] The Corporate Affairs Commission did, however, conclude that the Harbourside Amusements group which became leased the park throughout the 1980s had three of Saffron's relatives involved as directors and company secretary. ^[21]

In 1987, a government inquiry by the National Crime Authority reopened an investigation into the fire. ^[22] No new evidence was presented, but it was found that the police investigation into the incident had been inadequate, the coronial inquiry ineffective ^[22] and that this "diminished the public's confidence in the justice system." ^[19]

1988-2004: "The Brighton Cut" and park reopening

The Big Top venue at Luna Park today, which stands in place of the Ghost Train.

In 1988, "The Brighton Cut" of Street of Dreams was compiled for film festival screenings at Tiny's insistence, but Sharp still considered this version a work in progress and not a final product. He also continued advocating for Luna Park to remain open, telling The Sydney Morning Herald that "Luna Park is magic and fantasy and dreams. Luna Park belongs to Sydney; it is far more than private enterprise; it is an institution with a fascinating history and folklore of its own... it is Sydney, past, present and future." ^[23]

In 1995, a memorial was dedicated to the seven victims of the 1979 fire, with a tree planted next to an antique bench displaying the names of the victims. ^[24]

When Luna Park was redeveloped in 2003, the memorial tree was removed and the bench lost. ^[24] Park director Warwick Doughty asserted that the memorial and events had little relevance, although North Sydney mayor Genia McCaffery, among others, disagreed and campaigned for the memorial to be reinstated. ^[24]

After decades of struggle and several periods of closure, Luna Park Sydney reopened on a permanent basis in 2004, largely thanks to the successful efforts of Sharp and the Friends of Luna Park. The park is also is now protected by government legislation and cannot be developed for other purposes. In 2004, a plaque listing the names of the victims was placed on an external wall of the Big Top Sydney, which was constructed on the site of the Ghost Train. ^{[25] [26]} The plaque was intended to be the centrepiece of a mural painted by Sharp, ^[26] but this did not eventuate.

2006-2020: Death of Saffron and Sharp, claims of Saffron involvement and new memorial

Saffron died in 2006. In May 2007, his niece Anne Buckingham claimed in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald that he was responsible for the fire. ^[27] Saffron himself had denied this, despite being associated with seven other arson attacks in the late 1970s. ^{[11] [27]} Buckingham claimed the attack was part of a plan for Saffron to gain control of Luna Park's lease, although she stated her belief that the seven deaths were not intended. ^[27] Buckingham later denied she made the comments attributed to her and demanded the story not be published, although the Herald claims her original statements were recorded on tape during a face-to-face interview. ^[27] Saffron's son, Alan Saffron, claimed in response that the fire was a "straight-out accident." ^[28]

Memorial sculpture for the fire's victims, carved by Peter Kingston and based on an illustration by Michael Leunig.

In August 2007, a series of small bronze sculptures were unveiled in Art Barton Park, which is just behind Luna Park and named after the park's original resident artist. Among them one dedicated to the fire's victims designed by Michael Leunig and carved by Peter Kingston. ^[29] The pillar on which the sculpture stands is engraved with the names of those lost, and at the base of the pillar is a plaque reading: "To all those who take refuge in this place, to make a small commitment to the protection of children as they play." Another memorial stands in the form of plaques with names and photos of the lost children at Waverley College. ^[30]

In 2008, Alan Saffron published his autobiography, Gentle Satan: My Father, Abe Saffron. On the topic of the fire, Alan described the fire as an accident and added that "there was no motive for such an act - my father believed he was already set to gain control of the lease of the park, as it had been promised to him by a high-ranking government official, who I'm regrettably unable to name for legal reasons." ^[31]

In 2010, Sharp discussed the fire's impact on his spiritual outlook with Radio National, connecting it to a passage in the book of Jeremiah which refers to the "worship of Moloch... (and) the Canaanite sacrifice of the first-born children by passing them through the fire":

(The fire was) a major religious event in the history of Sydney, if not wider... I think that's absolutely what it was and Moloch's sacrifice was made as far as I can tell from the history of it, was made of children into the fire to bring power to the king. Fun-fairs are Molochian temples disguised to pass into the modern world as an amusement, or an entertainment, but at certain times they fulfil their destiny and become the scenes of such tragedies. It's not unique of course, this fire at Luna Park in the history of fun-fairs and deaths in the ghost houses. There seem to be scenes of where the deaths occur. That sort of inherent sort of creepiness you do feel about some fun-fairs and the sort of canned laughter of clowns and false fun of these places, ultimately. Which I fell for in the beginning, that's for sure. I loved Luna Park, and river caves, and there was great charm there and inventiveness. But it was a Moloch Temple disguised as a fun fair. ^[32]

Sharp died in 2013, having never finished Street of Dreams despite working on it obsessively for decades. It remains unfinished and has never been officially released on home video in any form, though the Brighton Cut has surfaced online as a low-quality bootleg.

In 2020, Alan Saffron died in Texas. Despite Alan's previous claims of his father's innocence, his widow Genevieve Saffron then claimed to be in possession of documents that contained information tying Abe to the Ghost Train fire and the murder of Juanita Nielsen. She told The Saturday Telegraph that she intended to release those documents because Alan wanted closure for the victims, so they could "know the truth about what happened." Genevieve added that Abe "was not a good man, and did some things he should not have done... I want the facts to be revealed but I don't have the stamina right now." ^[33] The "documents" in question have also been described elsewhere as Abe's "diaries", which Alan is said to have claimed are "locked in the safe of Angus and Robertson, publishers, and marked ‘never to be released’ until I die, because I would fear for my own life." ^[34]

2021: Exposed: The Ghost Train Fire

In March 2021, Australia's national broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), screened a three-part investigative series by journalist Caro Meldrum-Hanna, Exposed: The Ghost Train Fire. ^{[35] [36]} The series interviewed a number of eyewitnesses, several of whom went public for the first time claiming they saw the fire being deliberately lit by "bikies" and that they were coerced by police at the time into changing their statement.

The program also brought to light much of Sharp's personal collection of files and taped interviews gathered during his own investigation of the incident over the years, as collected in the "Ghost Train Room" of his Wirian residence. However, Exposed did not discuss Street of Dreams nor Sharp's theological perspectives on the fire.

Exposed concluded that Saffron was responsible for the fire, and that a web of criminality connected him, Detective Inspector Doug Knight, former NSW Premier Neville Wran and former High Court Justice Lionel Murphy. It was alleged that Saffron ordered the setting of the fire by an outlaw motorcycle club so he could gain control of the lease on the crown land (public land protected by the government of New South Wales) on which Luna Park stood. The "fresh claims of foul play and a cover-up" in the television program led to a call by Jodi McKay, then-leader of the NSW official opposition, for the government to instigate a new coronial inquiry or Royal Commission into the case. ^[37]

2021-2025: Aftermath of Exposed and potential second inquest

The allegations against Wran were criticised by former premiers Bob Carr and Barrie Unsworth, former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, former ABC managing director David Hill, and former editor Milton Cockburn and journalist Troy Bramston of the Sydney Morning Herald. ^[38]

This resulted in the ABC Board establishing an enquiry into the programme. In their report, Professor Rodney Tiffin and journalist Chris Masters characterized the programme as overstating the allegations against Wran, while concluding that overall "the program makers uncovered much suspicious evidence around arson being the cause of the fire, exposed the incompetence of the police investigation, reported on the inadequacies of earlier investigations, revealed the way policy making by the NSW government benefited Saffron, and the corrupt circle of influence around Saffron. They mounted a compelling case for a new investigation." ^[39]

"Ultimately, justice is always done."

—Martin Sharp ^[40]

In April 2021, following the release of Exposed: The Ghost Train Fire and the subsequent public outcry, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that "relevant agencies in NSW are considering [a fresh inquest]". ^[41] At the request of New South Wales state coroner Teresa O'Sullivan, ^[42] the NSW Police Force reopened their investigation and its homicide division established Strike Force Sedgeman to conduct the review. A reward of AUD $1 million for 'fresh and significant information' was offered to encourage witnesses to come forward. ^[43]

In September 2024, Strike Force Sedgeman completed their review of the evidence. After some deliberation, a redacted version of the report was made available to family members of victims as well as relevant counsel. O'Sullivan will review the report in making a decision as to whether or not a second inquest will be held, and has requested that it not yet be released to the public or the media. The matter returned to court on 28 October 2024 ^[44] but no further developments are yet known to the public.

In 2025, Stuart Coupe published a biography of Saffron that concluded that while some evidence exists of his possible involvement with the Ghost Train fire, it is also not currently possible to directly and conclusively link him to it. ^[45]

See also

• List of disasters in Australia by death toll

References

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5. "Series 01: Architectural plans and drawings of rides and buildings at Luna Park (North Sydney, New South Wales), Luna Park (St Kilda, Victoria) and Luna Park (Glenelg, South Australia); and plans of buildings and rides at Royal Agricultural Society Showground, Moore Park, New South Wales, ca. 1926-1979 / Call Number PXD 1086". State Library of New South Wales Catalogue. Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
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