Article: The show's nearly over for two icons of the Ekka

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

The show's nearly over for two icons of the Ekka

The show's nearly over for two icons of the Ekka
Article from: The Courier-Mail

By Margaret Wenham

July 15, 2009 12:00am

FOR nearly 40 years it has delivered the proverbial bird's eye view of Brisbane's beloved Ekka.

It also has provided the means of giving aching feet a well-earned rest. But after this year's show the wheels of the iconic chair lift will stop turning for good.

The lift - which first thrilled Ekka patrons in 1971 at a cost of 40c for a magical trip - will be dismantled as part of the massive, multibillion-dollar redevelopment of the showgrounds.

This also will be the last year for the old Industrial Pavilion, home of the show bags, which is earmarked for demolition.

While the hall will be transformed into a "state-of-the-art exhibition building", RNA executive director Jonathan Tunny said a new home for the all-important show bags had yet to be determined.

"That's why we're saying to the people of Queensland, come out and have a ride on it now because it'll be your last chance," Mr Tunny said.

"It's also your last chance to see what the grounds are like now, before all the changes are made."

This year will also be patrons' last chance to walk through the 72-year-old Industrial Pavilion, home of show bags, which is set to be demolished next year.

Mr Tunny said while plans for the replacement 11,000sq m state-of-the-art exhibition building were still being finalised, the facade of the pavilion would be retained.

It hadn't been decided where the show bags might be sold after this year.

"A number of our much-loved displays will be relocated for a short period as the redevelopment rolls on," he said.

Mr Tunny said the redevelopment of the 22ha site was estimated to take around 15 years and would provide, in addition to a "revitalised RNA" site incorporating sideshow alley and new industrial and large animal pavilions, a mixed commercial, residential and retail development.

He couldn't say whether a new chairlift would be built.

"It hasn't been decided ? it's something we'll think about," he said.

Stan Durkin, 72, the man who helped build the chairlift and who has part-owned and operated it ever since, described the ride's demise as "a tragedy".

It was, he said, still the most popular ride at the show, together with the big Skymaster ferris wheel.

"It's a shame to see (the lift) disappear ? it's something the attendees like and that's a point that doesn't seem to be taken greatly into account in the redevelopment."

He said the layout and profile of the ride had never changed in its 38-year life.

The 521m one-way journey still took about seven minutes and the chairs were 15.8m above the ground at the highest point.

What had changed was the cost of a ride, up from 40? one-way in 1971 to $7 in 2009.

[ButFli]

I certainly won't be missing the industrial building. That place was aweful!