top of page

HISTORY

Wittingslow Amusements has a long and colourful past spanning more than 80 years in the outdoor entertainment and amusement industry. History Founder Thomas George Wittingslow made his start during the dark years of the Great Depression in the early 1930s.

After a brief apprenticeship at a city fun parlour, Thomas went out on his own in 1932, working small shows and fairs in country Victoria. Returning to Melbourne for his first Royal Melbourne Agricultural Show, Thomas began what was to become a life-long association. His game of 'Guess Your Weight' involved the operator estimating, within four pounds, the exact weight of the customer.

After six years of war service, Thomas returned to the industry in 1946 and with son Des began working fairs in large provincial towns. They ventured into the first amusement rides at the Royal Melbourne Agricultural Show, when merry-go-rounds (carousels) were hugely popular after years of war-time austerity.

The Melbourne Moomba Festival of 1948 saw Wittingslow present the first new generation "thrill" rides. Over the next 30 years, the Wittingslow family business grew steadily with three generations playing an active role.

Bigger, more exciting rides and games from England, Europe and the United States delighted showground patrons. Ventures into ride design and construction led to successful projects such as the Sea World Roller Coaster on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

Festival Management Wittingslow incorporated Festival Management into its services in the 1990s, directing and producing some of Victoria’s major festivals. These included the Melbourne Moomba Festival 1997-1999, Geelong Waterfront Festival 1996-2001, and the AusDay Festival 1999-2001. The Wittingslow Carnival operated at all major agricultural shows, including Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide, and many street festivals around Melbourne.

Since the 1950s, Wittingslow rides have also provided many hours of summer holiday fun at the Rye and Rosebud Christmas Carnivals on the Mornington Peninsula. Commitment to Quality The company’s commitment to producing high quality events and state of the art amusements has enabled it to develop a high profile and an excellent reputation in the entertainment industry.

In line with the recent development in direction and the desire to diversify our interests to encompass a broader range of services and a move into the international arena, Wittingslow Amusements Australia Pty Ltd has, over the past couple of years, succesfully undertaken several new and exciting challenges.

In 2002, Wittingslow Amusements Australia became the first Australian amusement company to move into the Asian market.

Since that time, Wittingslow Amusements Australia equipment has operated at Carnivals in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Bangkok and Seoul. In 2004-2005, Wittingslow Amusements Australia won the contract to produce the Country Fair scene for the Paramount Pictures filming of the classic 'Charlotte’s Web', released in 2006.

A huge and exciting event requiring considerable organisation and co-ordination, it was yet another platform to be able to successfully deliver an event of high quality.

me mum dad.jpg
wittingslow-history-1.jpg
witt ticket.jpg
Untitled-1.png
bottom of page