DREAMWORLD TIMELINE

1974: Founder John Longhurst buys land at Upper Coomera with plans for a theme park.

1981: Dreamworld opens on December 15.

1986: The Thunder River Rapids Ride opens.

1989: Longhurst sells the park to Dreamco and visits it for the last time. 1995: Tiger Island opens. 1997: The Tower of Terror opens, the tallest ride of its kind in the world.

1999: Dreamworld sold to current owner Ardent Leisure.

2001: Park becomes the host of landmark reality tv series Big Brother. 2011: Buzzsaw opens as park marks 30 years. 2016: Four people die in accident on the Thunder River Rapids ride. Park closed for six weeks.