More about the Geelong Carousel
From w
The Geelong Carousel started its life in 19tha century New York, the horss hand-carved Dare horses. The Armitage-Herschell Company manufactured the Carousel in 1892. It came to Australia and was located at the Mordialloc Carnival from 1920 to to 1950s. (Eh? I've been on it then, as we holidayed in Mordiallic one year!) It was finally dismantled and left in a paddock at far away Echuca (on the Murray River), and eventually auctioned and stored at Castlemaine.
A vintage car restorer Rick Furlong bought it and the City of Greater Geelong engaged him to organize the restoration project. It took two years as forty layers of paint were scraped back to reveal the original colours. 24 of the horses are the originals and the two chariots are replicas based on originals in America.
The Carousel is located at the Geelong Watefront these days. There is also a replica of the organ of a Gavioli and Co Band Organ circa 1898 which has its own set of drums and a glockenspiel as part of its mechanics.
The Geelong Carousel started its life in 19tha century New York, the horss hand-carved Dare horses. The Armitage-Herschell Company manufactured the Carousel in 1892. It came to Australia and was located at the Mordialloc Carnival from 1920 to to 1950s. (Eh? I've been on it then, as we holidayed in Mordiallic one year!) It was finally dismantled and left in a paddock at far away Echuca (on the Murray River), and eventually auctioned and stored at Castlemaine.
A vintage car restorer Rick Furlong bought it and the City of Greater Geelong engaged him to organize the restoration project. It took two years as forty layers of paint were scraped back to reveal the original colours. 24 of the horses are the originals and the two chariots are replicas based on originals in America.
The Carousel is located at the Geelong Watefront these days. There is also a replica of the organ of a Gavioli and Co Band Organ circa 1898 which has its own set of drums and a glockenspiel as part of its mechanics.
posted by Peceli and Wendy's Blog at 1:23 AM
4 Comments:
I love carousel horses and how wonderful that they are actually American. Must look for it next time i am in Geelong.
Penny,
I have a fascination for carousels, yet an uncomfortable feeling with that mandolin kind of music. Might be the staring eyes of the horses or some memory from infancy.
w.
I don't know what it is about carousels. They are perhaps the simplest carnival ride in existence, yet they still have that certain charm. When both my kids were little they loved carousels so much that whenever I took them to Tokyo Disneyland it was the first thing they headed for...ignoring the bigger attractions despite our urging! Now that my daughter is 10 and my son 7 they're more inclined to the bigger thrills, but they still gravitate toward the carousel when it comes into view.
I, for one, am glad to see a piece of history (and craftsmanship) being cherished.
Actually 36 of the horses are original. The kids loved it, well worth a visit when next in Geelong
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