Adelaide’s abandoned eyesores, derelict buildings and what is planned for their future
From a former amusement park to unfinished houses, we’ve found SA’s most notorious abandoned properties and what – if anything – is planned for them.
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From former quarries and unfinished houses to petrol stations and theme parks, SA’s abandoned buildings are often a source of frustration for neighbours and local residents.
We’ve taken a look at some of the most well-known abandoned sites and eyesores across the state.
Some of these sites have been the subject of community campaigns for decades with a solution still a long way off.
While others are taking steps in the right direction with development and demolition plans in the works.
Scroll down to see our list of some of SA’s notorious abandoned buildings and sites.
ANZAC HIGHWAY, EVERARD PARK
Just last month, this abandoned art deco house on Anzac Highway fell victim to a suspicious fire.
When crews arrived at the property in the early morning of October 29, it was engulfed in flames.
Firefighters saved an under-threat house nearby but said the art deco home was destroyed.
The 1950s home was bought in 2018 by embattled property developer Elli Cakar who planned to develop the home into an apartment complex.
Unley Council rejected the plans and investors took control of the property.
The council is now considering another application, by Parkstone Funds Management, to demolish the destroyed building and replace it with a four-storey office and apartment building.
PUZZLE PARK, MURRAY BRIDGE
What was once SA’s top tourism destination now sits vacant in Murray Bridge.
The rusty remnants of Puzzle Park, including slides and play equipment have remained untouched since the former amusement park’s closure in 2007.
Plans to develop the site into a retirement home never made it to fruition and the 4.5ha site was listed for sale by expression of interest late last year.
It is now listed for sale with a $1.3 million price tag.
At the time, selling agent John DeMichele from Raine & Horne Real Estate said it was the hope of the Murray Bridge community to see the site developed into a new tourist attraction.
“Personally I would like to see the site developed into a caravan and cabin park with slides and attractions, so similar to the Big4 (Caravan Park),” he said.
SKORPOS GARAGE, ASCOT PARK
Since this discount petrol station stopped its bowsers 14 years ago, the Marion Road site has sat vacant.
The site has long been the target of vandals with Marion Council designating the garage a local nuisance in 2018.
Since then, the council has ordered the property owner to clean up graffiti a number of times but is yet to see more significant action taken in regards to the future of the property.
In August, the council voted to undertake a council-wide analysis of under-utilised sites to determine a way forward.
“Through this exercise we can identify those sites – such as what Councillor Hull is talking about – that are problematic and also identify the behaviour where the landlords aren’t co-operating with us or are really dragging their heels,” Councillor Jason Veliskou said at the time.
SCHWEPPES FACTORY, PAYNEHAM
What was once home to a bustling Schweppes factory now sits vacant on Payneham Road.
Plans to develop the site into a $6 million shopping precinct were quashed by the Environment, Resources and Development Court earlier this year following a one-man challenge.
Since then, Norwood, Payneham & St Peters (NPSP) Council have said a State Government plan to rezone the land to allow five storey development should not go ahead.
NPSP Mayor Robert Bria said the council was not aware of any plans for the future of the site.
“The nature and form of any future development for the former Schweppes bottling plant site is likely to be influenced by the outcome of the draft Payneham and Stepney Strategic Sites Development Plan Amendment, as that will provide a new set of rules and design parameters to inform any future development proposals for the site,” he said.
BUCHANAN GROVE, REYNELLA EAST
An abandoned home at Reynella East has been vacant for years and a constant target of vandals.
Last month, a local MP said the Buchanan Grove property posed a serious safety risk to the community.
“This Reynella East house has been a safety issue and an eyesore for several decades in spite of various attempts to resolve it via the legal mechanisms that are available,” Labor MP for Hurtle Vale Nat Cook said.
Despite numerous clean ups and continuous monitoring, both Onkaparinga Council and the Housing Safety Authority said there isn’t much more that can be done at the property.
“Advice recently sought by council confirms that any order requiring demolition of the
dwelling would be a disproportionate response to the current state of the property and
likely to be successfully challenged by the landowner,” an Onkaparinga Council spokesman said.
CEMENT HILL, SEACLIFF PARK
For decades, the derelict Cement Hill site has sat vacant much to the frustration of local residents.
The 7ha former quarry is now owned by developer Seacliff Oceanview Estate, which plans to develop the site into housing and retail tenancies.
But plans to develop the site have hit constant roadblocks and delays.
The most recent being the postponement of a haul road required to progress development at the site.
The relocation of the haul road into the neighbouring Linwood Quarry – owned by Boral – is required before Planning Minister Vickie Chapman can sign off on the development plans.
In August, Boral’s southern region executive general manager Lloyd Wallace said the company had hoped to begin construction on the haul road in July.
He was not able to say why the work had been delayed or when it might start.
GOLD COAST DRIVE, CARRICKALINGA
This unfinished home on the Carrickalinga Esplanade has been at the centre of a long-running dispute of it former owner Stephen Marks and Yankalilla Council.
Mr Marks built the Gold Coast Drive home too high and later won a court compromise to lower the height of the property.
He was later threatened with forced sale of the home over a $26,000 council rate debt but Bendigo Bank took possession of the property before that sale could go ahead.
In April, Yankalilla Council approved an application to demolish the house but it currently remains in tact.
“The building has not been demolished yet but the application remains active and can be enacted upon by the applicant at any time,” Yankalilla Council chief executive Nigel Morris said.
“Council’s legal representatives continue to work with representatives of Bendigo Bank in connection to 9 Gold Coast Drive.”
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