Spanish villas covered in vines and rides that have sat dormant since the 1980s: Inside the abandoned Sydney theme park El Caballo Blanco - untouched since the gates closed 16 years ago
- Gia Cattiva first visited El Caballo Blanco in 2013
- There were overgrown empty buildings and the rides were abandoned
- She travelled an hour southwest of Sydney again last week before it is 'lost'
- The land will now be included in a housing development and golf course
A Spanish-inspired amusement park that once housed a thriving attraction for families now lies in ruins in Sydney's south-western outskirts.
The El Caballo Blanco, which was famous for its dancing Andalusian horses, shut down after 20 years in 1999 and its empty performance halls, go-kart tracks and water slides were overtaken by unruly grass and wildlife.
Sydneysider Gia Cattiva, 32, ventured to the abandoned field in Camden last week, about an hour southwest of Sydney, to see what was left of the amusement park she visited as a child in the 80s.
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El Caballo Blanco was a south Sydney amusement park that was famous for its dancing Andalusia horses (pictured) and closed down in 1999 after 20 years
Sydneysider Gia Cattiva, 32, visited the abandoned park in 2013 and photographed what was left of the once popular holiday spot (pictured)
Many of the park's building had been partially knocked down or ruined from a fire in 2007 (pictured)
The El Caballo hotel (pictured) that housed families during the 1980s and 1990s was partially covered by overgrown grass and falling apart in 2013
‘It’s this space that used to be vibrant and full of people and have the buzz of an amusement park...you feel like you’re in a place that you’re not meant to be and that the site could tell so many stories,’ Ms Cattiva said
Furniture has been scattered across the grounds and the walls are covered in graffiti (pictured)
A paddle boat in 2013 (pictured) when Ms Cattiva visted the park for the first time since it closed
Ms Cattiva visited the park (pictured) with her grandmother in its heyday in the 1980s
When Ms Cattiva returned last week, the entire park was demolished. Some areas of the park were already demolished before crews began knocking it down for construction last year (pictured)
During her first visit in 2013, Ms Cattiva saw that a 2007 fire had damaged a lot of the main structures and took photos of the remains.
When she returned last week, there was hardly any evidence the park had ever existed – except for a rusty paddle boat and pieces of Spanish tile, Ms Cattiva said.
A looming start date for the construction of a housing development that will be built on top of El Caballo Blanco and her personal nostalgia for the colourful park led her back again, Ms Cattiva said.
Ms Cattiva said there was ‘a very unique feel’ to the former park (pictured)
A looming start date for the construction of a housing development that will be built on top of El Caballo Blanco and her personal nostalgia for the colourful park led her back again, Ms Cattiva said
What was left of the El Caballo Blanco water slide in 2013 (pictured)
The train tracks remained in 2013 but were overgrown with grass and debris (pictured)
‘I explored it because I knew that it would be redeveloped soon and it would be lost forever,’ she said.
‘You would never know that anything was there. It may be lost it hasn’t been forgotten.’
In Ms Cattiva’s video, old images of the amusement park in its heyday in the 80s and 90s are compared to how the area looks today.
A fire in 2007 destroyed most of the amusement park and it was deserted (pictured)
Many of the building remains were covered in graffiti and had been used as a rave party location (pictured)
The unruly grass and weather has taken its toll on the buildings (pictured)
It was also used as a carpet warehouse after the early 2000s (pictured)
After it shut down in 1999 it was used for weddings and functions, as well as equestrian events
The characteristic blue Spanish tile decorated the park's floors (pictured)
‘I have these special memories of visiting there in the 80s when I was a little kid – my grandma took me there.’
‘It was a bittersweet experience. I feel really lucky to have experienced the park as a little kid and get to see the performances.’
In a commercial from 1983, El Caballo Blanco was a 150 acre park that brought the European culture and colour to Australian families on holiday.
An inner swimming pool was used for skateboarding (pictured) after it was abandoned
It was the second El Caballo Blanco started by West Australian Ray Williams, following the original in Perth
‘You would never know that anything was there. It may be lost it hasn’t been forgotten,’ Ms Cattiva said
The family friendly amusement park (pictured) offered horse rides, performances, water slides, go karting and paddle boarding from 1979
It has a miniature train, a go-kart track, waterslides, a hotel, restaurant, a just over 2km train track and a large stable and performance arena for the many horses.
It was the second El Caballo Blanco started by West Australian Ray Williams, following the original in Perth.
The park opened in 1979 and after it shut down in 1999 it was used for weddings and functions, as well as equestrian events.
It was soon completely abandoned in the early 2000s and was used as a warehouse for carpets and occasional rave spot for teenagers until the fire in 2007.
The horse trainers and performers were known to wear very bright costumes during performances (pictured)
Children swimming in the pool (left) when the park was open and the train that travelled just a little over 2km around the park (right)
In Ms Cattiva’s video, old images of the amusement park in its heyday in the 80s and 90s (pictured) are compared to how the area looks today
The only remaining portion of the train tracks this year after above structure had been torn down (pictured)
Ms Cattiva found a small piece of tile left after bulldozers tore the park down (pictured)
The Perth park is still open and is a hotel and function centre.
Ms Cattiva has travelled to several abandoned amusement parks and said there is always ‘a very unique feel to them.’
‘They’re known for being a bit creepy,’ she said.
‘It’s this space that used to be vibrant and full of people and have the buzz of an amusement park and when its abandoned, you feel like you’re in a place that you’re not meant to be and that the site could tell so many stories.’
Ms Cattiva said she hopes the housing development – Hermitage Gledswood Hills estate – will name a few of the streets after the once beloved El Caballo Blanco.
The water slide in the 1980s (left) and a family barbecuing nearby during the summer (right)
One of the only items left of the amusement park last week was a blue paddle boat (left) that family rode around a man-made lake (in the background left) in the 80s (right)
An ad from 1983 shows The El Caballo Blanco in its former glory (pictured)
The park held sheep sheering events (left) and visitors could rent horses to ride around the 150 acre plot (right)
The park was recently cleared and the land will be used to accommodate a housing development and possibly a golf course (pictured)
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