History and Development of Sea World

Overview

Following its origins as one of the Gold Coast's pioneering tourist attractions, Sea World has developed into Australia's leading marine park with a truly international standing.

1958 - 1971: The Surfers Paradise Ski Gardens

Sea World had its beginnings when local businessman Keith Williams pursued a vision to combine his love of water skiing with a Gold Coast tourism attraction.

He bought a parcel of riverfront land at Carrara and here he established the Surfers Paradise Ski Gardens in 1958, presenting water ski shows that combined comedy, aqua ballet and action.

Many elements of these shows have survived and are incorporated into today’s action-packed Ski Challenge spectacular, which continues to thrill millions of spectators.

Even in its early stages, the Ski Gardens attracted national and international attention - in 1959, the Ski Gardens hosted the Australian Water Ski Championships, and in 1965 became the venue for the Ninth World Water Ski Titles.

1971: The establishment of Sea World

In 1971, it was decided to move the Ski Gardens closer to the heart of Surfers Paradise to 64 hectares of crown land on the Spit which was leased in 1970.

Establishing the new attraction was a huge undertaking with major dredging works to create the new ski lake.

The final ski show was held at Carrara and three days later the show opened on the Spit at Sea World incorporating Ski Land of Australia.

1972: Sea World gains identity as Gold Coast icon

On the present site of the Sheraton Mirage Hotel, Marineland had already been established, with dolphin and sea lion displays its major draw card and competitor.

Keith Williams introduced dolphins to the park to be competitive and established a purpose-built marine stadium.

In 1972, the name was changed to Sea World to reflect the park's new attractions which included dolphins, marine displays, a replica of the Endeavour, a swimming pool, licensed restaurant and gift shop; all designed to allow families to enjoy a whole day in the park.

As attendances grew, the next decade saw the addition of the Dockside Tavern, Customs House Gift Shop, Ice Cream Parlour and Railway Station for Sea World's two-thirds scale locomotive.

1976: Marineland purchased

Keith Williams bought Marineland and transferred the park's marine life displays to Sea World.

1978: Flume ride adds a new element of excitement

In 1978, the first of Sea World's major rides opened - the Viking's Revenge Flume Ride and Castle.

The Flume Ride was followed by the Wild Wave Rollercoaster with the Pirate Ship and Carousel opening in 1981.

1982: Corkscrew captures the public's imagination

In 1982, the Corkscrew Rollercoaster, was opened by the Premier, 72-year-old Joh Bjelke Petersen, who took the inaugural ride.

Following the opening of the Corkscrew Rollercoaster, attendances surged with a 20 per cent increase over the previous year.

1984: Sea World sold to Pivot Leisure

In November 1984, Keith Williams decided to concentrate his energies on developing a resort on Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays and sold Sea World to Pivot Leisure, headed by entrepreneur, Peter Laurance.

Under Peter Laurance's direction, Sea World continued to develop into a truly international tourist destination. The floating of the theme park on the Australian Stock Market saw the establishment of the publicly listed Sea World Property Trust.

1986: Float provides capital for expansion

With the capital raised from the float, Peter Laurance set about expanding Sea World with a program to add new attractions throughout the park.

Under the program, Sea World grew from 10 acres to 60 acres. In 1986, Sea World also opened the highest priced single attraction of any Australian theme park, Australia's first monorail system, with a two kilometre circuit around the perimeter of the park.

Sea World became firmly entrenched as one of the nation's tourism leaders, winning the Australian Tourism Awards and Queensland Tourism Awards.

1987: Record attendance and new foundation demonstrates commitment to the environment

Sea World's annual attendances broke the one-million mark with 1,000,116 visitors for the year.

This was followed by the creation of the Water Park and Lassiter's Lost Mine ride, an underground adventure ride featuring animatronic miners and state of the art electronic effects.

Sea World's commitment to the conservation of the marine environment led to the establishment of the Sea World Research and Rescue Foundation (originally the Neptune Oceanic Foundation) in 1987. The Foundation funds independent marine research projects benefiting the conservation of marine species.

1988: Tourism boom and Sea World Nara Resort opens

The tourism boom created by Brisbane’s Expo 88, helped Sea World shatter the previous year's attendance record with 1.199 million visitors to the park. Expo also helped in opening up new international markets to Sea World. The burgeoning Japanese market was successfully tapped.

Sea World Nara Resort, a joint venture between Sea World Property Trust and the Nara Group of hotels from Japan, was officially opened in December 1988.

1991: Warner Bros. & Village Roadshow add new attraction to Gold Coast

The Sea World Property Trust expanded its tourism investment with the opening of Warner Bros. Movie World, Wet'n'Wild Water World and the Warner Roadshow Movie World Studios, in a joint venture with the American company Warner Bros. and Australian entertainment company Village Roadshow.

The Sea World Property Trust still retained 100 per cent ownership of Sea World, 50 per cent of Sea World Nara Resort and 33.3 per cent of Warner Bros. Movie World, Wet'n'Wild Water World and the Warner Roadshow Movie World Studios.

1992: Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow renew direction

In July 1992, Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow took control of Sea World when the companies acquired Peter Laurance's 66 per cent stake in Sea World Property Trust.

The close association with Warner Bros. Movie World, as well as Wet'n'Wild Water World and Sea World Nara Resort, does to this day provide opportunities to combine the attractions and resources in powerful destinational marketing campaigns.

1994: Bermuda Triangle opens and contributes to record attendances

In 1994, Sea World opened its most ambitious investment to date - Bermuda Triangle.

The unique ride which replaced Lassiter's Lost Mine bristled with hi-tech special effects to create an amazing adventure experience.

Sea World also opened the 3D theatre Sea Dream.

1995: Record attendance

With a national campaign to launch Bermuda Triangle, the overwhelming public response was a major contributing factor to the record attendances for the year.

1996: Expansion of Dolphin Facilities

In 1996, Sea World's ongoing commitment to assisting injured and stranded animals, resulted in the development of a Veterinary and Rehabilitation Centre. Through this specially designed centre Sea World has been very successful in the rehabilitation of marine animals.

December 1996 brought the opening of Dolphin Cove, one of the world's most environmentally sensitive, naturally formed dolphin habitats with four main lagoon pools containing 30 million litres of water.

1998: New Pirates 3D Adventure opens

In 1998 Sea World continued with its philosophy of providing new attractions for its guests by opening a new movie in the 3D theatre - Pirates. The film is transformed into a multi-dimensional experience by using a series of special effects that enables the audience to feel part of the adventure.

1999: Cartoon Network Cartoon Beach opens and Sea World welcomes Cartoon Network characters

In 1999, Sea World focused on providing a new family attraction. With the help of one of the world’s leading children’s pay TV channels, Cartoon Network, the theme park opened another new attraction - Cartoon Network Cartoon Beach.

Cartoon Network Cartoon Beach is an exciting, colourful and interactive adventure playground for children, including 5 children’s rides and an interactive fountain, all incorporating a cartoon theme.

2000: Kanook and Ping Ping wow crowds at Polar Bear Shores

Sea World unveiled its new attraction, Polar Bear Shores on December 26, 2000. This naturalistic exhibit became home to Australia’s only Polar bears “Kanook”, a female bear (from Reid Park Zoo, Tucson, Arizona) and “Ping Ping” , a male bear (from Beijing Zoo, Beijing, China) who were the first to move in.

Three years of planning and research finally paid off with guests being able to observe Kanook and Ping Ping in this near natural habitat at Sea World, and learn more about these incredible marine animals.

Polar Bear Shores is a naturalistic and stimulating Polar bear environment utilising the latest in Polar bear keeping technology and drawing on international research and knowledge. It recreates an Arctic summer tundra environment, and will extend educational frontiers and public awareness about these massive marine mammals, including the conservation issues surrounding them.

2001: Polar bear cubs Lia and Lutik arrive at Sea World

Sea World publicly introduced one year old Polar bear cubs, Lia and her brother Lutik to the Australian public on 26th December 2001.

The cubs travelled from Leningradski Zoo Park in St Petersburg Russia, to their new home at Polar Bear Shores and compliment Sea World’s existing bears, Ping Ping and Kanook.

The Polar bear cubs, Lia (female) and Lutik (male) are 2nd generation zoo born bears, which means both their parents and their parents were born in zoos. Leningradski Zoo Park boasts 100 successful Polar bear births.

The two bears had been living in their enclosure at Leningradski Zoo since their birth in December 2000 and entered a quarantine period at the end of October in preparation for their journey to Sea World.

The young bears produce a contrast in behaviour from the older bears, allowing guests the opportunity to appreciate and understand all stages of their life cycle, which will act as a valuable educational tool and extend awareness about the conservation issues surrounding these magnificent marine mammals.

2002: Takeover of Sea World Property Trust

In 2002, all units held by the public in Sea World Property Trust were compulsorily acquired resulting in the Trust now being privately held by companies associated with Warner Bros. Inc. and Village Roadshow Limited. The Trust is no longer listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.

2003: Animated heroes star in new 4D Environmental Film at Sea World

From the chill of the Arctic...To the depths of the ocean...And the thrill of the jungle...

In September 2003, Sea World opened a new 4D experience replacing the Pirates 3D Adventure.

With the immersive effect of giant screen 4-D, this state-of-the-art digital animation takes guests on a captivating journey covering three of the most pressing environmental issues of our time: global warming, ocean habitat destruction, and deforestation.

“Planet SOS” is presented by Sea World Marine Rescue, representing the Park’s ongoing research, rescue and rehabilitation programs.

2004: New animals surface at Sea World

Shark Bay is the world’s largest man-made lagoon system for sharks and houses some of the most awe-inspiring of the species in an innovative exhibit which opened in April 2004 and wins best NEW TOURISM DEVELOPMENT at the Queensland Tourism Awards. The exhibit also plays a major role in contributing to the understanding and appreciation of the Shark.

Sadly, Kanook, the Grand Duchess of Polar Bear Shores, passed away June 2004, leaving staff devastated by her loss, especially keepers who worked closely with her. Kanook was diagnosed with kidney failure in April 2003 and was been treated with intermittent steroids which kept her in good general health. Just like people and other animals, the condition is not rare and an exact cause is unknown.

Ping Ping was returned to Beijing Zoo, China, in November 2004 where he was reunited with his mother and other companion bears. Hudson and Nelson arrived at Sea World in November 2004 at the age of nine months to join young bears Lia and Lutik at Polar Bear Shores. They had been orphaned in the Canadian province of Quebec and had been taken in temporarily by Quebec Zoo who embarked on a world wide search for the most suitable home for the young cubs.

Pig our rehabilitated dugong is displayed to the public for the first time in his own exhibit “Dugong Discovery”.

2005: Waterski WipeOut & Plunge

Stepping back in time Sea World ski show has a face lift with the new ‘Waterski WipeOut' show. Sea World waterpark inherits “The Plunge” waterslide from Wet'n'Wild Water World.

2006: Wuru, The Shak & H2O: Just Add Water

A baby dugong was brought to Sea World in January after being found on a beach at Emu Park near Rockhampton and collected by a QPWS Ranger and an elder of the local Darumbal community who suggested the name “Wuru”, meaning “young child”. “Wuru” was moved into Dugong Discovery in July and was then introduced to “Pig” our resident dugong later in the year.

Two new television children's series begin filming at Sea world - 'The Shak' a funky and fresh new children's 'adventuretainment' on channel Nine and H2O: Just Add Water on channel Ten. "Lutik" our eldest male bear is transferred to Alaska Zoo to join an eight year old female bear "Alpun" as part of the international breeding program.

Sea World is home for a limited time of the Sea World Eye - an impressive 60m high giant observation wheel.