Sydney Ghost Train fire

The Sydney Ghost Train fire at Luna Park Sydney in Australia killed seven people (six children and one adult) and destroyed the ride on 9 June 1979. The fire was originally blamed on an electrical fault despite firefighter observations to the contrary. A 1979 coronial inquiry and mid-1980s investigation were inconclusive about the fire's cause. Over the years there have been claims the true cause was arson ordered by Abe Saffron, and that NSW Police had covered it up. This conspiracy theory was perpetuated by park artist Martin Sharp, who spent over three decades amassing a large personal archive of documents relating to the fire, creating art inspired by the fire (including the unfinished film Street of Dreams) and advocating for new investigations into its cause, insisting it had been deliberately lit. Since Saffron's death in 2006, two of his relatives have substantiated this theory. A 2021 Australian Broadcasting Corporation investigation featured testimony from numerous eyewitnesses consistent with arson. The ABC concluded that Saffron was responsible and that NSW Police had indeed conspired to cover up his involvement. Renewed interest since then has led to public demand for the case to be reopened. In late 2024, there were court hearings indicating the potential for a second coroner's inquest. As of 2026, it has been claimed by "anonymous police sources" that this is unlikely.