The Maze at Weston Park – one of the enduring childhood memories of many a Canberran – is making a comeback.
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Businessman Jason Perkins, who has transformed the site of the much-loved miniature rail at Weston Park, is continuing the makeover, with plans to have a new maze in place, possibly by the end of the year.
Mr Perkins has been negotiating with the ACT government to build a wooden maze in its original location at the back of the railway.
He said the original maze was constructed from more than 4000 logs and the new one would be made with safe, treated timber.
"I mean, this is my childhood," the second-generation born-and-bred Canberran said.
"I also want to look at bringing back the mouse house and the forts."
In 2012, the Weston Park conservation management plan urged the ACT government to consider restoring the old-school playground equipment that used to be in the park, such as the tree houses, forts and mouse house "within current Australian safety standards for play spaces".
The plan at the time also suggested the government "undertake further research and investigation to find a suitable location for recreating the maze".
Mr Perkins, who bought the lease for the miniature railway site and accompanying cafe 18 months ago for more than $300,000, has wasted no time resurrecting the area, including renaming it the Yarralumla Play Station.
He has spent "the best part of" $500,000 transforming the area by adding two 18-hole, Canberra-themed putt-putt courses, buying historical 1910-era train carriages, which are used to host birthday parties, and updating the cafe, including by installing the seats from the carriages as tables and chairs.
The menu has also been overhauled, led by head chef Jesse Field, who is also at the helm of Frankies of Forde.
Mr Perkins is also planning to open a small petting zoo. The train – and those cartoon characters in the tunnels – are still firmly part of the attraction.
He said the site had definitely been underutilised, despite its prime location on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin.
"Half of Canberra thought the place had closed down and the other half didn't think it was worth coming here," he said.
The father of four used to run Kid City in Mitchell, hosting close to 40 birthday parties every weekend. He was looking for another business and the Weston Park complex was it.
"It was an iconic part of my childhood and lots of other people's childhoods. You'd have a play in the park and if you were lucky, if you'd been good, you got a ride on the train and to go through the maze," he said.
Jeska Marshall, of Watson, was visiting the centre on Thursday with her two-year-old daughter Ruehana Sheppard.
She used to visit the park when she was a child.
"I think it's good they've done it all up," she said.
"It's one of our favourite things to do, to ride the little blue train."
