page_title: History of Dreamworld
section_title: 1980s
hierarchical_section_title: History of Dreamworld / 1980s
caption_attribution_description: English: The Thunder River Rapids Ride at Dreamworld
context_page_description: The history of Dreamworld dates back to the mid-1970s when John Longhurst envisioned the future theme park. After a seven-year construction period, Dreamworld officially opened to the public on 15 December 1981. Now owned by publicly listed Ardent Leisure, the park has seen many expansions, closures and replacements over its 30-year history.
  Dreamworld's most iconic attraction is the Dreamworld Tower which stands 119 metres high. The tower houses the Tower of Terror II and The Giant Drop. Other thrill rides at the park include BuzzSaw, The Claw, Cyclone, Mick Doohan's Motocoaster, and Wipeout. The park also features two children's areas based upon DreamWorks Animation and The Wiggles, respectively. A wide collection of flat rides rounds out the attraction lineup.
  Throughout 2011, Dreamworld celebrated its 30th birthday by investing money in a variety of attractions over the course of the year.
context_section_description: In the months following Dreamworld's opening the park set about constructing more rides, shows and attractions. In April 1982, Dreamworld opened a new themed area titled Country Fair. The flagship attraction was the Thunderbolt roller coaster. This steel roller coaster was designed by Japanese firm Sanoyas Hishino Meisho and was Australia's first looping roller coaster. At the time of opening it also earned the title of Australia's longest roller coaster with a length of 1,207 metres (3,960 ft). Other attractions in the area included a swing ride named Zumer (later Swinger Zinger) and a plane ride named Red Baron (later Dora the Explorer's Sea Planes). A set of upcharge go-karts named Grand Prix were located within the Thunderbolt's footprint rounded out the attractions in Country Fair. Also in 1982, a second themed area opened known as Gum Tree Gully. The area's main attraction was the Australian Koala Theatre which showed the animatronic show Country Jamboree at the time.
  In 1983, expanded again adding another two new themed areas. The first was the Blue Lagoon water park. Attractions at Blue Lagoon included a body slide named Aqualoop Flume Ride, a tube ride named Krakatoa's Revenge, and a toboggan ride named Toboggan Ride. A large lagoon swimming pool and a children's pool rounded out the water park. The second themed area was Village Green which was constructed to provide a link between the 1982 additions of Country Fair and Gum Tree Gully. Attractions at Village Green included a matterhorn ride named Avalanche, a set of Bertazzon bumper cars, a carousel, an arcade and a miniature train ride named Little Puff which ventured through an area known as The Enchanted Forest. Country Fair was also expanded with the addition of the Enterprise (later Reef Diver) and a Chance Rides Trabant named Roulette (later Stingray). The park also introduced its third mascot, Belinda Brown.
  In 1984, Dreamworld began seven-day trading after only being open Tuesday through to Thursday since 1981.
  On 15 December 1986, Dreamworld unveiled Gold Rush Country (later the Town of Gold Rush), its eighth themed area. The area was located to the left of Central Plaza and featured two attractions. The first was a wild mouse roller coaster named the Eureka Mountain Mine Ride. Built by Brisbane company HyFab, the roller coaster was enclosed within a mountain with selected track segments venturing outside the mountain. The area's second attraction was a river rafting ride called Thunder River Rapids Ride. The ride's channel weaved around Gold Rush Country and under the Eureka Mountain Mine Ride. Also in 1986, the park opened the Music Bowl (later Dreamworld Amphitheatre and Dreamworld Studios) and had its first after-dark opening.
  In 1987, Koala Country opened as the park's ninth themed area. Spanning 6 hectares (15 acres), the area was home to many native animals including 13 koalas. Two years later the Skylink Chairlift opened providing a link between Koala Country and Gold Rush Country. The 312-metre (1,024 ft) ride was manufactured by Ferrari and saw pairs of guests board one of 38 carriages for a three-and-a-half minute ride. The ride was originally located at Magic Mountain, Nobby Beach before being relocated to the park.
caption: Thunder River Rapids Ride in 2007
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