I had heard a rumour a while back that the new shopping center was built over the top of the old tanks and that they were among the few buildings in Perth that had basements, but I didn't see any evidence of that when I was there. The shopping centre does have multiple levels with lots of stairways, but it was built at the same time as the park.

Shops

Photo taken standing next to the Neptune statue, looking across a road at the carpark and new shopping center.

The shops are built in the same style as how the park was. Parts of the marina certainly look like they have been there since the park was open. The only exception is if one stands on the roadway running along the western edge of the park with the marina behind you and look up at the large retaining wall, there is a very distinct colouration difference where the shopping centre and park site meet.

Where the walls join

This could lead people to think that they were built at different times, but the two were built at the same time. Interestingly, it is the park side which looks nice and new (the right). The side that looks scungy is the shop side, which one would think would be maintained better.

The Marina at Two Rocks

There are a number of stone heads and statues between the two which look fairly old. These might be from the old park or they might be more recent.

Stone Heads in a park

Update: The source of these heads has been determined! Several people have written in during the middle of 2010 and have identified these heads as part of the carved clock built by Marc LeBuse. Those pictured above are Harry Butler, Ronald Reagan, King Neptune, Jacques Cousteau and Captain Cook. The one with the moustache has not yet been identified. Missing are Charles & Diana who were the twelve and Walt Disney who was at the six position.

I received an email from Brad who informs me that the clock had a feature whereby as each hour was struck, a recorded message played giving a short biography for the person who was depicted on that hour. He distinctly remembers that Walt Disney was the head in the 6 o'clock position as he really wanted to hear the biography at the time. However, he says that now that he is older, he assumes that there would not have been a message recorded for times when the park wouldn't be open (such as 6am and 6pm).

However, the other heads are missing and I have not been able to find where they ended up.

Update! The missing statues have been found:

Statues at Club Capricorn

The statues are at the Club Capricorn camping site. They too have had a bit of a makeover! If you are planning on heading up past Yanchep to take a look, be aware that Club Capricorn is a business and be respectful of the staff, grounds and patrons.

You can stand next to the heads and see Neptune. Indeed, the two are practically a stones throw from each other.

getting head

One of the heads in the park. You can see the statue of Neptune to the right between the branches.

There are other statues closer to the shops that are as old as the park. There are a number of Aboriginal-themed statues (not pictured) which were also made by Marc for Telethon. The most famous (and most photographed) would have to be the wooden Waugal statue.

A wooden carving of a mythical beast

It is built like a Wyvern and looks really old due to it's being made of wood and being near the coast - it is very weather beaten. It is, however, not a part of the old Atlantis Marine Park materials. Also, the Waugal is normally the Rainbow Serpent which isn't described as having wings anywhere else.

I received an email from Phil who say the Waugal was an early Mark Le Buse creation that used to live in the centre of the Yanchep caraven Park playground before it was moved to Atlantis. He remembers seeing it being assembled when he stayed there as a child. That caravan park became Club Capricorn.

Presumably, these statues where put into place as a bit of a "primer" before entering the park proper. Or if I want to be cynical, to attract kids over to the shops to buy ice cream and such. Of the other statues in the park next to the shops, the most interesting is one that appears to be of Icarus, from Greek Mythology.

Greek Mythology

There was once a placard of some type on the statue, but it was long gone when I was there. It is clear that a skilled artist made it, but there is no indication who made it, where it came from or why it is in a small park next to the Two Rocks shopping center. It might also be a Le Buse statue, but to my eye it seems to have been made in a different style. It might have been put here in "statue park" after the heads were dumped there.

Update: Yes, it is a LeBuse statue as confirmed via email by someone who had a photo of when the plaque was still there.

scenery

So other than a few small statues hiding in the bushland, little remains of Atlantis.

Narwhal statue

Just King Neptune, eternally looking out to sea.

Neptune watches the Indian Ocean

This is the view that Neptune sees. Since this is the west coast, he gets to see some kick-ass sunsets!

I hope you enjoyed reading this article. I have certainly received more emails about Atlantis than anything else on my site. If you have any information to share or corrections for any mistakes I have made, feel free to drop me a line and let me know.

Bonus Update! Someone made an interesting video giving a brief tour of the park. You can see it on YouTube. It gives a decent idea of what it's like up there at the moment, whilst giving a little tug at the heartstrings.

Sources:

There is also a Facebook group (you need to be logged in to Facebook to see it now) which has a number of photos (some of these are on there as well) from when the park was open and is worth a look if this article interested you. I think it links back to this article as well.

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Originally written: December 2009
Last updated: July 2011