The Land of Make Believe

In the heart of Yokine, Western Australia, there once stood a much-loved children’s amusement park called the Land of Make Believe. For many locals, especially those who grew up during the 1970s and 1980s, it was a magical spot filled with colourful fairy tale characters and playful attractions.

 

The Birth of a Mini Theme Park

In 1969, the swampy land that is now Yokine Reserve (formerly known as Yokine Park) was transformed into a man-made lake, with surrounding areas landscaped into parkland. That same year, the Land of Make Believe was created — a fairy tale-themed playground built by H.L. Brisbane, a division of Wunderlich Limited, a well-known Western Australian brick and roofing tile manufacturer.

 

At a time when suburban amusement parks were popular family destinations, the Land of Make Believe offered something unique. Rather than thrill rides, it focused on gentle, family-friendly attractions designed to spark the imagination of young children.

 

The entrance to the park was through the colourful Old King Cole’s Castle, a whimsical building complete with turrets and storybook charm. Inside the park, children could visit the three little pigs’ houses, Cinderella’s castle with guinea pigs and a stork statue carrying a baby — bringing nursery rhymes and fairy tales to life.

 

What Made It Special

The Land of Make Believe was filled with life-sized statues and colourful scenes from classic children’s stories like Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Humpty Dumpty. The displays were crafted from fibreglass or plaster and painted in bright, cheerful colours, creating a sense of wonder and adventure for young visitors.

 

The park also had playground rides, a small animal enclosure and peaceful picnic areas where families could relax while their children explored.

 

The Decline and Closure

By the late 1980s, the Land of Make Believe began to fade in popularity. Like many small amusement parks across Australia, it faced rising maintenance costs, changing entertainment trends and fewer visitors.

 

The park eventually closed in the early 1990s and most of the fairy tale statues and playground equipment were removed. Yokine Reserve returned to open parkland but one reminder of the past remained: the distinctive Old King Cole’s Castle building. Its medieval-style design is still easily recognisable today and serves as a nostalgic link to the area’s past history.