Remember This? Luna Park Unlimited Rides Ad (1987)

Back in 2019, I posted a 1986 newspaper advertisement for Luna Park offering $6.50 Unlimited Rides Passes for the May School Holiday Period (at the time, NSW had three terms in a school year instead of four). The following year, the same passes were on offer for $5 during the July School Holiday break. 

1987 was the first year that NSW Schools adopted a four-term year, with School Holidays of two weeks in Autumn, Winter and Spring, alongside the six-week summer break. Prior to that, there was no winter holiday period; school holidays fell in May and August.

According to the RBA Inflation Calculator, the unlimited rides pass would cost the equivalent of $15 today.

As of January 2026, Unlimited Rides passes cost $55 and can be purchased online. Like visiting more than three times a year, an annual pass will set one back $149.

  

Source: Luna Park. 1987. "Luna Park. Just For Fun, Just for $5!" (Advertisement). The Sun, July 2: 15.

Remember This? When The Beach Boys Rocked Narrabeen (1992)

During their 1992 tour of Australia, The Beach Boys did one concert in Sydney. Instead of opting for venues such as the Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney Football Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground, they performed at North Narrabeen Reserve, North Narrabeen (home to Rat Park and Warringah Rugby Club).

The venue was within walking distance of Narrabeen Beach. Narrabeen is referenced in the Beach Boys’ 1963 hit “Surfin’ U.S.A.” as “Australia’s Narrabeen,” establishing a direct geographic connection between the 1992 concert site and the song’s roll call of surf locations.

20, 000 people attended the concert on Saturday, November 28 1992. Lead singer Brian Wilson did not perform, but John Stamos (Full House) was a guest drummer, as reported by The Sun Herald (November 29 1992), who was a "hit" with the "teenage girls". 

Source: Tubb, R. 1992. "Beach Boys Thrill Fans Again". The Sun Herald, November 29: 6

Remember This? Sydney Panorama from Olympic Park (2006)

In 2006, the Novotel at Sydney Olympic Park was the only high-rise building in the precinct, and for a small fee, one could visit the observation deck on level 18. It offered spectacular 360-degree views of the Sydney metropolitan area. 

I visited the observation deck that year and stitched a panorama of around 180 degrees, including Chatswood, St Leonards, North Sydney, the Sydney CBD, Burwood, and Strathfield.

Below is a close-up of the Sydney CBD with Sydney Tower perfectly positioned in the middle. 

Given the development at Sydney Olympic Park since, I am grateful that I was able to create the panorama as the views towards the city have been blocked by the high-rises. 

Remember This? Twin Cities Aerial (1973)

Remember This? is back for January. Below is a 1973 aerial of Sydney and North Sydney as captured by photographer Ern McQuillan. The aerial places the Sydney Harbour Bridge at the centre of the image while capturing what was referred to as the "twin cities". The photo was featured on Page 1 of the Wentworth Courier in its edition of July 4, 1973.