Move over Micky Mouse, Bluey's World attraction opens in ...
Many Brisbanites take pride in pointing out local landmarks that have appeared in Bluey, from South Bank and Mount Coot-tha to Queen Street Mall.
But despite a Domain.com listing earlier this year claiming to be Bluey’s actual house for sale – spoiler, it wasn’t – the Heeler home has not been on the itinerary for tours of Bluey’s hometown. Until now.
Bluey’s World Brisbane is designed to appeal to the show’s pre-school age viewers, but obsessed adult fans are expected as well.Credit: Bluey's World Brisbane
Eighteen months in the making, Bluey’s World Brisbane has opened in a custom-made pavilion in the riverside suburb of Hamilton, on the city’s north side, with a blue carpet ceremony.
Visitors to the 4000 sqm attraction are taken on a 60-minute tour of Bluey’s house, initially guided by a fairy (from the Fairies episode) and then a garden gnome (from the Hammerbarn episode).
Encompassing a supersized version of the show’s pastel-coloured Queenslander home, the tour takes in the living room, Bluey and Bingo’s bedroom, the kitchen, playroom, and backyard (for a game of Keepy Uppy), as well as a few other surprise locations.
Naturally there’s a gift shop, with exclusive Bluey’s World merchandise, plus a food outlet modelled on the Chinese restaurant in Takeaway.
Visitors can sit on Bluey or Bingo’s bed or play the ‘watermelon game’.Credit: Bluey's World Brisbane
Kids can follow the clues to find Bluey and Bingo, and a certain obnoxious hand puppet popular with viewers makes a prominent appearance.
Fans can keep their eyes open for lovingly recreated details from choice episodes such as the Duck Cake from Duck Cake, the swing seat from Flatpack, and the stump from Stumpfest.
Superfans should also look for ‘longdogs’ – dachshunds that the showmakers hide in every episode for eagle-eyed viewers.
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“Did you see that Bandit’s underpants are in the dishwasher?” Bluey’s World producer Andrew Kay asked this masthead.
“This is our love letter to Bluey, so little things are important.
“The stakes of producing something about Bluey are high because nearly everyone knows Bluey. The children, the adults, the grandparents – we have to do something that meets their expectations and exceeds them.”
There are high hopes that Bluey’s World Brisbane will attract visitors from interstate and overseas. More than 60,000 tickets have already been sold, with $18 million expected to be injected into the economy.
“The US market is a key one for us,” said Juliet Alabaster, COO of Brisbane Economic Development Agency.
“Direct flights to Brisbane have just come in from Dallas Fort Worth, and we had a great promotion in partnership with Tourism and Events Queensland with Kelly Clarkson’s show where the whole audience got tickets.”
The Bluey and Bingo CityDogs are Brisbane River ferries welcoming visitors to Bluey’s World Brisbane.Credit: Bluey's World Brisbane
Alabaster said that tickets to Bluey’s World Brisbane were available until September, but they were hoping for an extension.
“You don’t think of a kids’ cartoon show about your city becoming a global phenomenon,” she said.
Tickets are $49.90 midweek and $64.90 on weekends (children under 2 years free).
Last week the city unveiled two Bluey and Bingo branded ‘CityDog’ ferries that will transport visitors to Bluey’s World (free parking is also available).
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