The Melbourne developer who helped keep Adelaide’s Dazzeland alive

Remember these coins? You guessed it – they’re from Dazzeland. We’ve taken a trip down memory lane and talked to the man who helped keep the name alive.

For years Dazzeland was the pinnacle of any trip to Rundle Mall, if you were a youngster – or just young at heart.

Set on the Myer Centre’s top two floors, Dazzeland had a rollercoaster, train ride, starry ceilings, animated trees, dodgem cars and arcade games, all accompanied by whimsical colours and lots of noise.

When it opened its doors in 1991, Dazzeland was a $20m mix of fun and fantasy.

About $5 scored you unlimited rollercoaster and dodgem car rides. A further $4 would get you a chicken burger, fries and soft drink to top off the day.

Official opening day of the new Myer Centre, Rundle Mall, which included the opening of Dazzeland. Picture: Matt Turner

Victorian entrepreneur Brian Amatruda. He bought Dazzeland rollercoaster, "King Kang" children's playground and "Spooky Hollow" train ride.

But that was until Dazzeland lost its sparkle.

Myer Centre management said the amusements intruded on the retail focus and they closed Dazzeland in 1998.

Some of the equipment was bought for just 1 per cent of the construction cost, with local amusement ride operators and Glenelg’s Magic Mountain among the buyers.

However, it was successful Melbourne businessman and boxing promoter Brian Amatruda – who owns Omni Property Group and Melbourne Pavilion – who was determined to keep Dazzeland alive.

He bought the Dazzeland name and about $5.5m worth of rides and amusements for just $120,000.

“We opened up a play centre in Melbourne and called it Dazzeland and decorated it with what was there (in Adelaide) – it was successful,” Mr Amatruda said.

“We ended up buying a lot of things, including the (Spooky Hollow) train that ran through the building and the (King Kang) playground.

Remember these? Source Dazzeland Appreciation Group Facebook Page

Brian Amatruda bought Dazzeland rollercoaster, "King Kang" children's playground and "Spooky Hollow" train ride.

“We originally bought the rollercoaster too, but it turned out you would have to take out half the building to get it out … so we didn’t proceed with that one.

“I look back now at what we did and realise there was nothing quite like it at the time.”

Dazzeland was the centrepiece of the Remm Group’s $570m redevelopment of the Myer Centre, with about 3.5 million people visiting the amusement venue in 1992 alone.

For more than two years, Mr Amatruda ran his highly successful children’s restaurant in an old ABC theatre in the affluent Melbourne suburb of East Malvern until his landlord said he had to leave.

“In my opinion, it was the best place in Melbourne – we had such fantastic equipment and it was amazing we could repurpose it,” Mr Amatruda said.

“We put so much time, as well as our heart and soul, into the place,”

Brian Amatruda pictured outside Luna Park, St Kilda, where he sold his Dazzeland train. Picture: Mark Stewart

The best elevator in the 1990s. Source Dazzeland Appreciation Group Facebook Page

After Mr Amatruda closed his business, the Dazzeland train was sold to Luna Park in Melbourne, where it was only decommissioned in 2017, while the playground and other items were sold to Sydney buyers.

Some smaller Dazzeland items can be found locally in South Australia.

DeYoung’s Salvage, in O’Sullivan Beach, has stars that hung from the Dazzeland ceiling as well as a wizard on a fish.

The goods were originally sold to Magic Mountain and, following its closure in 2006, the shop owner bought them for his store.

Wingfield-based Mobile Amusements also bought some equipment, including a signboard, arcade game and shooting game.