Secret basement lurking under Campbelltown McDonald’s

A SECRET underground basement, trapped in time, is lurking underneath the ever-popular Campbelltown McDonald’s restaurant.

It has emerged Campbelltown McDonalds has an underground tearoom, McDonalds owner Peter Meadows photographed today 16th February 2018. Image AAP/Matthew Vasilescu

A SECRET underground basement, trapped in time, is lurking underneath the ever-popular Campbelltown McDonald’s restaurant.

The remnant of the original restaurant, built in 1976, is roughly the size of an 25m swimming pool, untouched for nearly 15 years.

Campbelltown McDonald’s licensee Peter Meadows at the entrance of the underground basement. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu.

The underground basement, located underneath the carpark, is roughly the size of a 25m swimming pool. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu.

Campbelltown McDonald’s licensee Peter Meadows said the forgotten “crypt” is a step back in time.

“It is basically a time capsule down there,” he said.

“Those people who would have been working in the original building would say it pretty much looks the same as the day they walked out of it.

“Even the doors are still on the changerooms.”

An obscured picture of Campbelltown McDonald’s underground basement. Picture: supplied.

The ladder to access the hidden Campbelltown McDonald’s underground basement. Picture: supplied.

The basement was a feature of the original American-designed Campbelltown McDonald’s restaurant, built for $250,000 in 1976. French fries and coca-cola were advertised at 25 cents each.

As a new McDonald’s restaurant was constructed in 2005, the original restaurant was demolished with the current carpark constructed above the original underground basement.

The basement housed the staffroom, offices, changerooms, storerooms and freezer for the restaurant’s 130 staff.

Heavy duty machinery is required to access Campbelltown McDonald’s underground basement. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu.

Mr Meadows, who began his McDonald’s career at Campbelltown as a 15-year-old, said the basement was a social hub.

“My memories down there is a lot of fun and a lot of antics,” he said.

“Things were a bit more free and easy back then.”

The basement will remain locked away for eternity, with heavy-duty mechanical equipment and special clearance required to enter Campbelltown McDonald’s inner sanctum.

The stairs to the underground basement.

Pictures found in the underground basement at Campbelltown McDonalds.

A glimmer of hope, however, remains for former workers of the fast food restaurant.

“Maybe we need to form a reunion; a historical tour down into the time capsule as it once was,” said Mr Meadows.

“I am sure it has some nostalgic value for those who used to work here although it is certainly not on the radar.”