Besides the iconic Sydney Opera House, the Australian state of New South Wales could have boasted of another landmark that draws in millions of dollars in tourism revenues.

The missed opportunity to have the Disney Resort is being blamed on the cold response of NSW officials to the proposal from the Walt Disney Company which was reportedly planning to build the wharf recreation centre on prime waterfront land within the White Bay and Glebe Island in 2007-08.

Citing proposal documents seen by Fairfax Media and revealed by the firm for the first time, The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the entertainment facility could have been called Disney Wharf at Sydney Harbour.

It was supposed to have, besides the classic Disney elements, themed hotels, a marina and ferry wharf, two new light-rail stations, retail space, entertainment quarter and a residential development.

Had the project pushed through, the old White Bay power station would have been converted into a design studio and arts centre, while Glebe Island would have been renamed Fantasia Gardens, featuring hedges cut in the shape of Disney characters.

The yacht club family resort and residential development would have been on the northern end of White Bay where a Disney town centre, Disney university and hospitality school was also in the drawing board stage.

Other attractions included Nemo-themed park, Peter Pan and Dumbo rides and actors wearing Disney character customers entertaining visitors . The whole project was code named Project Lester, supposed to have been an integrated Disney destination to live, work, play and learn and expected to boost real estate prices in the area and surrounding neighbourhoods.

Former Victoria Minister of State Development Ian Macdonald supported the project, while then Premier Morris Iemma and Treasurer Michael Costa were reportedly part of high-level talks, but their interest deflated when they learned of the scale of infrastructure investment that Disney expected from Victoria which had a starting figure of $500 million for the rail wharf and changes to the road system.

A Disney spokesman did not comment on the alleged Sydney proposal, but said that Walt Disney Parks and Resorts was always in search of ways to grow its business and have conversations with different groups.

The planned site currently houses a temporary exhibition centre and a cruise passenger terminal.

Disney eventually opened a park in the Australian state of Tasmania, which also features the Australian culture.

YouTube/Disney Parks

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