The Myer Centre Adelaide opened 32 years ago this June. We re-live some of the magic moments of the past three decades

Thirty-two years after the Myer Centre’s official opening, we look back at the history of the complex, recall some memorable moments, and uncover what happened to the Dazzeland roller coaster.

Can you believe it’s been almost 32 years since the Myer Centre opened its doors for the first time?

There was much fanfare and anticipation as Rundle Mall’s state-of-the-art shopping complex was launched by then-SA Premier John Bannon on June 3, 1991.

Over the last three decades, roughly 250 million people have paid a visit. While some of the shops might have changed or are empty these days, the memories remain.

With news today Myer is threatening to shift out of the iconic Myer Centre, we look back at the centre’s history, recount the memorable occasions, and try to uncover what happened to the Dazzeland roller coaster.

Myer Centre, Rundle Mall, Adelaide. Entrance Jun 1991.

OPENING DAY

More than 200,000 people - roughly one-fifth Adelaide’s population - had visited the Myer Centre by the close of business at 5.30pm on opening day. About one million of us checked it out during its first week of trading. Actually, make that pretty much each and every one of us: Adelaide’s population was just over one million in 1991. In the middle of a recession, mind you!

Official opening day of the new Myer Centre, Rundle Mall, Adelaide, June 3, 1991.

There was a party atmosphere on the official opening day of the new Myer Centre in Rundle Mall on June 3, 1991: Photo: Narelle Autio.

ADELAIDE’S OWN SUPER SHOP

When it opened the Myer Centre was like nothing Adelaide had even seen before. Make that Australia. We had what was the most technologically-advanced shopping centre in the country. The $570 million ($1 billion in today’s dollars) complex had 36,000 sqm of retail space, eight levels of specialty shops, multi-level underground parking and food facilities with seats for up to 1300.

The Garden Cafe in the Myer Centre food in July, 1991.

QUIET PLEASE

It may have been an urban myth, but we remember hearing construction workers were paid extra not to whistle at women walking along Rundle Mall and North Terrace.

LIP GLOSS AT 20 PACES

The complex’s first day of trade also coincided with the opening of a new six-level Myer store with a fancy cosmetics department on the ground floor where, rumour has it, competition between the salespeople was so fierce it was known as “the snake pit”.

ustomers on the ground floor of the Myer department store in July, 1991.

THE VIRGIN MEGASTORE

For the record, the Myer Centre also had a Virgin Megastore, which stocked 20,000 music titles – vinyl, cassettes and CDs (remember those?) – displayed over a huge 370 sqm of floorspace.

CDs (remember those?) line the shelves in the Virgin Megastore music shop on the opening day of the Myer Centre in June, 1991.

DARYL COMES TO TOWN

The Virgin Megastore also had Daryl Braithwaite - who had just had a no.1 hit with The Horses - performing on opening day in front of 1000 people in Rundle Mall.

Daryl Braithwaite sings at the new Virgin Megastore in the Myer Centre complex, Rundle Mall, June 3, 1991.

DAZZELAND

The top two floors of the Myer Centre were devoted to Dazzeland which had games, rides, dodgem cars, a Lego exhibition, a giant playground and a rollercoaster. The $20 million CBD amusement centre was so busy in its early days that on June 10, 1991, staff had to turn off the escalators to slow the rush of people. Dazzeland also ran out of food before lunchtime, and 20c coins in coin-change boxes within an hour of opening.

Thrillseekers ride the rollercoaster at Dazzeland on the opening day of the Myer Centre on June 3, 1991. Photo: Matt Turner.

ELLE MAKES AN APPEARANCE

There was mass hysteria when Australian supermodel Elle MacPherson came to the Myer Centre in 1992 to introduce her new line of lingerie. More than 4000 people crammed into the centre to watch MacPherson – who was then at the peak of her fame – host a fashion parade. The day later ended in tragedy with the suicide of a young man who had attended the event.

Supermodel Elle Macpherson sigs her autograph during a calendar signing session at the Myer Centre in October, 1991, a few months after the official opening. Photo: Trinna Teppa.

RIDES GALORE

Remember when you could go on unlimited roller coaster and dodgem car rides at Dazzeland for just $5? You could also get a burger, fries and a soft drink for under $4. Now that was value!

WORKS OF HART

In 1993 world-renowned Broken Hill artist Pro Hart put the finishing touches on his South Australian Mural on display on the mezzanine level. Commissioned by the Myer Centre and measuring 6m by nearly 2m it depicted the arrival of the tall ship Buffalo, the Old Gum Tree, the early wine industry, Rundle Mall and Brown Hill Creek.

THE DAZZLE LEAVES DAZZELAND

Originally occupying the top two levels of the building, Dazzeland started to fade by 1997, with the facility reduced to the fifth floor to create more retail space. As crowds continued to dwindle, its rollercoaster and dodgem cars were sold off for a fraction of their worth. More on that later.

Emily Kies, 8, of Fullarton, arrived early at Dazzeland to beat the school holidays crush. Emily sitting on stool in front of bingo machines, July 1993. Photo: Chris Mangan.

A FITTING FINISH

When Dazzeland closed in early 1998, its final week’s takings were donated to the then McGuinness McDermott Foundation, now known as Little Heroes. Its final day was also free for 250 youngsters living with cancer.

Dazzeland mascots King Kang (Russel Cahill), Katie Koala (Sally Boot), human helper/handler Sam McDonald, King Bedazzelus (Matt Pike) and artistic co-ordinator Malcolm Harslett. In the photo are Popeye and Olive Oyl, who weren’t normally part of Dazzeland’s mascots.

RUBY’S A GEM

The Myer Centre knew Ruby Rose before she was (world) famous: In September 2011 the then MTV poster girl, who went on to become a global star on Orange Is The New Black, hosted a High Voltage style session at the Myer Centre.

Ruby Rose at the Myer Centre in Adelaide for Myer’s 'In Season' fashion launch in 2011.

TONY’S SA PLAYGROUND

American smooth crooner Tony Bennett might have left his heart in Adelaide in February 1999, after he met with hundreds of devoted fans in the centre’s Myer store ahead of his concert in the Barossa Valley. Bennett, then aged 72, was on his first visit to SA and signed copies of autobiography The Good Life, and a recently released CD, Tony Bennett: The Playground.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ROLLER COASTER?

Melbourne developer Brian Amatruda bought much of Dazzeland, including the roller coaster, the train, the animated trees, the signage and assorted amusements for $160,000, which he claimed was worth about $3 million in 1997.

Unfortunately, dismantling and removing the roller coaster would have cost upwards of $500,000, so after some legal wrangling, he decided to leave it at the Myer Centre and take the rest for a discounted price.

The Dazzeland rollercoaster in May 1991, ahead of the opening of the centre on June 3, 1991. Photo: Steve Morenos.

The following year, Mr Amatruda launched a play centre in Melbourne which he named – yes, you guessed it – Dazzeland. It was open for business for three years, before closing. He later sold the train to Melbourne’s Luna Park and everything else was auctioned off to Sydney buyers.

So what happened to the roller coaster? The Myer Centre said it was eventually purchased by someone else but the owner’s identity remains a mystery.

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