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Physical Description

The Darling Harbour Carousel is a portable, three row, suspended-gallopers carousel (fitted with thirty wooden horses and two replica vintage cars). It is driven by an electric motor but retains its complete steam boiler and engine intact and operable, through the boiler is currently out of commission. It is fitted with Gebruder Bruder pneumatic band organ. The carousel is permanently stationed within an octagonal pavilion which has steel framing, a glazed roof and metal roller shutter doors between each of the eight posts supporting the roof.

The CAROUSEL is founded on a four wheel centre truck made up from a timber wagon. The central, vertical drive shaft of the centre truck turns a set of twelve horizontal timber beams called ‘swifts’, radiating from the centre shaft. The timber floor platform is supported by a substructure of radial beams and intermediate struts. The horses are three abreast and occupy ten of twelve segments of the circular platform, the other two having replica vintage cars. The carousel is covered by a canvas dome canopy, and liberally festooned with lights.
The two POWER SYSTEMS to drive the Carousel are both mounted on the centre truck. One is the original steam boiler and engines, the other being the electric motor which is used at present.
The DECORATIVE PANELS and ARTWORK of the Carousel are: on the rounding boards around the outside of the roofing structure, on the twelve top centre shutters of the centre truck, on the portable bottom centre shutters which conceal the centre truck, on the banner boards hanging from the swifts between the rows of horses, around the floor and sides of the floor platform. Decoration includes timber panelling, mirrors, and painted scenes including: Venetian gondolas, Australian Aboriginals hunting kangaroos, American ‘Indians’ pursuing a western covered wagon, sea shells, various animals, nursery rhyme scenes, a lighthouse, tall ships and a Manly ferry steamship.
The BAND ORGAN is manufactured by Gebruder Bruder. It is a 52 key stop pipe organ with two drums, one of which has a cymbal. The organ is wholly contained within a varnished timber casing elaborately decorated. The machine is pneumatically operated, controlled by a perforated paper roll. The organ is mounted on a four-wheel timber carriage, acquired from farm in NSW c1960 and converted for this purpose. [source: Godden Mackay Heritage Consultants, April 1997)

Modifications

? built
1894 - imported to Australia
c1910 - system installed to enable horses to ‘gallop’
1920s - painted English scenes redone and replaced with Australian scenes
1938 - boiler reconstructed by ‘Carmichaels’ boiler works
1948 - crankshafts for galloping motion renewed
1951 - electric motor drive system fitted to Carousel
1950s - machine refurbished, much of timber replaced (platform), horses repaired, electric switch gear refurbished
? - two sleighs/chariots replaced by replica vintage cars
1963 - steam engine and boiler refurbished
1960s - Band Organ refurbished, painted scenes repaired / refurbished
1976 - wrought iron rods tying radial beams to centre shaft replaced with steel rods
1990-1993 - Carousel restored, and a special pavilion erected over it

History

The Darling Harbour Carousel was purchased and imported to Australia in 1894 by Thomas Kale. It was purchased second-hand and required extensive refurbishment, including the replacement of the planks between the horses with a continuous platform. At that time the horses had no rise and fall motion. Around 1910 Kale employed Herbert Thompson, an Australian engineer, to design and install a system to enable the horses to "gallop". Kale operated the carousel in 1912 outside the Customs House of Circular Quay as part of the official celebrations for the arrival of the Americal Naval "White" Fleet. In the 1920s Kale sold the Carousel to his son, David Kale.

Under David Cale's ownership the Carousel travelled around NSW and was a regular fixture at most major agricultural shows, fairs and special events. Many of the painted scenes which decorated the Carousel were redone during this era by a local artist, Paddy Murray. The Carousel appeared in the Royal Easter Show from the 1920s to 1939, and operated in various other locations and events. From 1941, the Carousel ws lodged at Manly Amusement Pier, the wartime conditions restricting its operations. The Carousel recommenced operation after the end of World War II at Manly Pier.

In 1951 David Kale sold the Carousel to Porter and Smit, the operators of the Manly Amusement Pier. An electric motor drive system was fitted to the Carousel in 1951.

In 1957 the Carousel was purchased by David Kale's grandson, Allen. Allen Kale had assisted his grandfather with its operation in Sydney prior to WW2. The Carousel recommenced operations in 1957. The condition of the carousel had deteriorated in the period between World War II and 1951. Alan Kale refurbished various apsects of the carousel. The carousel remained fixed at Manly until the 1970s.

In 1986 the Carousel was purchased by the Darling Harbour Authority to be a permanent fixture in the Darling Harbour Authority area. It was stored for 2 years, then put into operation in 1988, until 1990, when Allen Kale was engaged to manage and oversee its restoration which continued until 1993. A special pavillion was built over the carousel in 1993 to protect it when not in operation (designed by architect Feiko Bouman). Allen Kale's son Bruce, a signwriter, was involved in the restoration of the paintings and paintwork of the carousel.

The Carousel has been in continuous operation in Darling Harbour, seven days a week, since 1996.
[source: Godden Mackay Heritage Consultants, April 1997)

Internet links

Webpage	Source
Carousel
Carousel	Attraction Homepage

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