Construction fencing has gone up and stacks of wooden Koppers logs have appeared behind Yarralumla Play Station in Weston Park, suggesting an exciting new major development.

Is the wooden maze finally coming back?

Older Canberrans will remember the wooden maze, built in 1979 by local public servant Peter Batum as part of the Department of the Capital Territory’s effort to turn Weston Park into a major recreational point for the city.

More than 200 people turned up for the opening in August 1980, adults paying $1 a head and children 60 cents to enter, according to The Canberra Times report.

The record for the shortest time went to a nine-year-old boy who completed the maze in six minutes, while some of the adults would “push their way through the trees which are still growing and break through on to a new path … that seems to defeat the purpose … of the thing”.

“If Saturday’s response to the maze is an indication, the complex of hidden paths is a timely addition to Canberra’s school holiday attractions,” the paper concluded.

The original wooden maze in Weston Park. Photo: Yarralumla Play Station, Facebook.

Only one cynical visitor was reported to have remarked: “Don’t know why they want a maze in their park. The whole of Canberra’s a bloody maze, if you ask me.”

It’s unclear from reports exactly when it was closed and demolished, but the Weston Park Master Plan published by the ACT Government in June 2013 noted the “closure of the maze and general deterioration of the park’s assets have resulted in the need to revitalise this important part of Canberra’s recreational and historic infrastructure”.

The master plan recommended a feasibility study for the government to reinstate the maze in partnership with a commercial operator within two to five years.

The mini-golf course at Yarralumla Play Station. Photo: Yarralumla Play Station, Facebook.

The following year, Jason Perkins bought Yarralumla Play Station and gave it a massive upgrade with the extension of the cafe, the introduction of two mini-golf courses and restoration of four historic (circa 1910) NSW train carriages.

But a post to the business’s Facebook page in 2020 revealed he originally had a lot more in mind.

“Since June 2015, I have been attempting to reinstate the old Canberra Maze, but the bureaucracy has finally gotten the better of me,” the post read.

“In 2015, I was told it was a ‘no brainer’, good for jobs, good for tourism and a great activity for families. Many promises were made but not one of them have come to fruition.”

It turned out Mr Perkins had held many promising meetings with government representatives and spent $12,500 in application fees, only to be told there would be no partnership and the government would only support the redevelopment through a direct land sale.

Works approval would therefore have to go through the Federal Government’s National Capital Authority (NCA).

At the time, Mr Perkins envisioned the maze would take up about three-quarters of an acre near the miniature railway and cafe, be made of timber boards and include near the centre a water maze – with curtains of water that would turn on and off to reveal and hide doorways – and a beehive maze with doors into other sections.

Piles of wood at the back of the Yarralumla Play Station. Photo: James Coleman.

So, what’s happening now?

On 3 December last year, Yarralumla Play Station announced “something big is coming” to its Facebook page.

“While we work on building a brand-new attraction, our train is taking a quick break. But trust us, the wait will be so worth it! Stay tuned for the excitement ahead!” the post read.

A Facebook post by Yarralumla Play Station in December 2024, announcing “something big”. Photo: Yarralumla Play Station.

Yarralumla Play Station turned down Region‘s request for comment on the recent construction work, but advised it would contact all media when it was “ready to get the word out”.

That’s almost certainly a yes, then.

The NCA was asked for comment.