Tale of two Ferris wheels, a first?

The Redcliffe Peninsula skyline will be dotted with not one, but two Ferris wheels as the Redcliffe Show opens next week and a new attraction at Woody Point puts locals and visitors in a spin.

It has prompted some to ask if this unusual sight is a first for the Peninsula.

Long-time residents will remember Luna Park, which opened in 1944 and had a merry-go-round, slippery-dip, steam train ride, Ferris wheel, chair-o-plane, midget cars, amusement games and stalls. It closed in the late 1960s and the site is now home to Settlement Cove Lagoon.

Ferris wheels have also featured at local fetes and fairs over the years too, and it would be impossible to know if they ever coincided with a Redcliffe Show.

The show, originally called the Humpybong Show, ran from 1923 to 1939 when it was suspended due to WWII.

Back then, it was more of a community picnic than what we would consider an agricultural show today, but it was a highlight on the calendar for locals and visitors.

It returned as the Redcliffe Show in 1950 and has continued to grow ever since, adding new attractions and entertainment. Rides including the Ferris wheel have been a drawcard for many thrill seekers.

This year’s show is on June 28, 29 and 30 at Redcliffe Showgrounds and the much-loved Ferris Wheel will return. These days, it is accessible so everyone can enjoy the view.

Woody Point welcomed its own 35m Ferris wheel on May 29. Operated by Skyline Attractions, it offers locals and visitors views across Moreton Bay to Moreton Island, Brisbane City, and the wider Moreton Bay region.

It will operate daily from 10am, seven days a week, until October.

So, for three days next week, two big wheels will be spinning on the Peninsula. For those on board, it probably won’t matter if it’s a first for the area, or not, as they take in the magical view.