Yeehaa, a koala revival
CROWD-FUNDING has started to bring three historic animatronic koalas and a menagerie of other nostalgic electronic animals home to the Gold Coast.
Curator Paul Hollibone and members of Facebook page Dreamworld — Remembering The Golden Years have launched a GoFundMe campaign to buy the stars of Koala Country Music Jamboree.
“Our aim is to raise funds to bring as many of these figures home to Queensland, restore and preserve them into an operational state, and display them for future generations to enjoy and learn from,” the page states.
The show was held from 1982 to 2002 at the Coomera theme park, which celebrates four decades of operation in December .
Mr Hollibone said 15 figures were up for grabs for $8000 each.
They are in a shipping container on a South Australian property “and have been since they were pulled out from the show”.
Mr Hollibone said the koalas were being sold with birds, a kangaroo, American singing bear and rabbits.
“We found out the animals were for sale as we had been in contact previously with a small group of people who have actually restored to operating condition one of the koalas. They are acting as an
agent for the owner of the collection to help find them a new home,” he said.
Mr Hollibone said “very generous people” had offered to help restore the figures if they arrived home.
He described the figures as important to the heritage of Dreamworld and the city, which had long been an entertainment destination.
Mr Hollibone hoped to hear back from Dreamworld.
The group has committed to refunding donations if the campaign is unsuccessful, minus GoFundMe fees.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate ruled out council help but wished the group well.