Winemaker Warren Randall’s push to bring Disneyland to South Australia

A leading SA businessman reckons McLaren Vale is the prime spot for the iconic theme park – as long as it’s not “a Magic Mountain-style big fibreglass turd”.

Renowned winemaker Warren Randall wants to ignite an audacious bid to create the world’s seventh Disneyland in South Australia and is offering part of his extensive McLaren Vale land holdings for a site.

The Seppeltsfield and Penny’s Hill winery owner is appealing for an SA Disneyland to be backed by a consortium of fellow business leaders and governments, which would investigate and, potentially, fund a unique tourism attraction generating jobs and investment.

Seizing on The Advertiser’s revelation that building an SA Disneyland was floated by key state economic advisers, Mr Randall argued the iconic theme park would be a standout attraction for domestic and overseas visitors.

“I think, in tourism, we’re all a little bit sick and tired of Adelaide being the place you fly over when you go from Sydney to Perth. It is time we made a statement, a few statements, in our state,” Mr Randall told The Advertiser.

“McLaren Vale would be my spot – wide, open, flat, next to the beach, next to the ranges – makes a lot of sense.”

Mickey and Minnie Mouse outside Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Picture: Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort

Asked if he would make some of his Randall Wine Group’s land available for a Disneyland, Mr Randall said much of his 1200ha at McLaren Vale was planted to vineyards.

“But, definitely, I would love to make land available for the location to kickstart it. Definitely. Either you sell the land into a consortium or you lease it or you gift it – you find a way,” he said.

“Firstly, you find the right location, on the right area. I think because we are so close to the beach, the hills and the city, particularly with the two-way Southern Expressway, that makes all the difference.

“Anaheim, the Disneyland in California, has fantastic resources, great infrastructure in terms of traffic, getting there, buses, parking et cetera.

“But we already have the model. We have the land. We’ve just got to have the will, the desire and the energy to put it together.”

Mr Randall said “a body and strength of commitment from the local region” would be essential, wherever an SA Disneyland was located, along with “a lot of political shunt” to assess the jobs and income the theme park would generate.

Warren Randall in one of his McLaren Vale vineyards. Picture: Dean Martin

Asked if the state government should investigate further, Mr Randall, also an Adelaide Football Club board member, said: “Definitely. Absolutely. Why wouldn’t they want to create tourism jobs (and) invite international guests, families, accommodation?

“It would have a huge knock-on effect for our state and start to grow us again, rather than shrink.”

Established in 1978, Mr Randall’s firm also is developing a $50m six-star Oscar Hotel at Seppeltsfield Winery, which was given council approval in June.

Penny's Hill Winery, McLaren Vale. Picture: Supplied by Randall Wine Group

A response is being sought from Disney’s Parks, Experiences and Products arm.

A spokesman for Premier Peter Malinauskas said the state government had not received “any proposal of this nature” but declared: “Mr Randall is a bold entrepreneur who has made a significant contribution to the state”.

Opposition Leader David Speirs said the Liberals loved ambitious, job-creating and innovative ideas but questioned whether Labor had sufficient cash.

“This gutsy proposal should be explored further, but the idea that the Malinauskas Labor Government will be able to afford this is simply a fairy tale,” he said.

Mawson MP Leon Bignell, whose electorate includes McLaren Vale, said California’s visitor economy was underpinned by Disneyland and the Napa Valley wine region, so having both in one place “has to be a winner for SA”.

But he cautioned that any Disneyland proposal should stick to McLaren Vale’s premium, world-famous principles of high-class food, wine, beaches and natural environment.

“We don’t want to be dumped with a Magic Mountain-style big fibreglass turd,” he said.

.