Unseen Adelaide – Page 14 of 45

September 16, 2016

Urban Exploring: Erindale Ward Glenside Hospital

Amidst Adelaide’s high-rise apartment block developments, there are areas of Adelaide that remain neglected and forgotten.

Erindale formed part of the Parkside Lunatic Asylum which opened in 1870. The Asylum was renamed in 1913 to the Parkside Mental Hospital, and again in 1967 to Glenside Hospital. It long held the nickname The Bin; a home for the discarded — the dumping point for people that didn’t fit into society.

Erindale Disturbed Mens Ward, Glenside Hospital c2016.

Erindale housed the more mentally disturbed male patients. In 1941 Electro-convulsive shock treatment (ECT) began here as a treatment for those with mental disorders. This was the first place to introduce shock therapy to Australia. Patients were also put under the knife, with the first psychosurgery procedure performed at Glenside in 1945.

Male patient recieving Electro-convulsive shock therapy. — Male patient receiving Electro-Convulsive Shock Therapy. (Photo courtesy http://guardianlv.com/)

Is Erindale haunted? Even though approximately one-third of the souls admitted to Glenside would die here, we experienced no paranormal events. Could it be a perfect spot for an Allen Tiller investigation or a Haunted Horizons Ghost Tour?

By the mid-1970s, breakthroughs in modern drug treatments and falling patient numbers led to the site’s closure, and for the past ~40 years Erindale has sat empty and disused. Probably one the most neglected buildings of Glenside Hospital, there are currently no plans to re-use the building. It sits there decaying.

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September 4, 2016

Urban Exploring: McDonald’s West Lakes Party Plane – Irene

The McDonald’s West Lakes Part Plane was originally used by the U.S. Air Force from 1942-1944. It was built at Long Beach, California and delivered to the U. S. Army and mainly operated as a “Biscuit Bomber” around North Queensland and New Guinea.

It was assigned nose number 52 and nicknamed “Irene”, after the crew chief’s wife.

Irene in World War II. — Irene (VH-AER) in World War II. (Photos courtesy pacificwrecks.com)

The aircraft had a long history of flying resupply missions based at Port Moresby. On November 3, 1942 it dropped supplies over Kokoda. On February 6, 1943 it flew supplies to Wau.

During 1944 it became a civilian aircraft and leased to Guinea Airways starting on January 29, 1945. From 1945 to 1982 it flew under many operators as a passenger service, aerial photography & mapping plane and as a cargo plane. It had flown a total of 57,648 Hours and used over 100 Pratt-And-Whitney Engines during its 40 years of flying. The DC3 was destined to be scrapped, but the owner of a South Australian McDonald’s Restaurant had a better idea.

McDonald’s West Lakes purchased the plane on 22nd February 1983 from Setair and repainted it in its previous T.A.A. colours. The restoration took 8 months and 800 man-hours to complete. It was transported by road to Adelaide and installed as part of McDonalds Restaurant at Turner Drive, West Lakes SA on December 3, 1983.

Many people will remember sitting inside ‘Irene’ at children’s parties at the McDonald’s West Lakes Restaurant, where the plane sat for most of the 1980s and ’90s.

“We wanted to have something unusual,” said the restaurant owner. “When we got it, our sales increased 60 per cent.”

McDonald's West Lakes Party Plane. — McDonald’s West Lakes Party Plane. (Photo’s courtesy Adelaide Remember When)

Now, 15 years after the former World War II supply plane stopped being used as a children’s party venue, it’s close to being restored to its former glory. We were able to get a sneaky glimpse of her a few weekends back.

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August 24, 2016

Urban Exploring: Davaar House / TPI

The building of ‘Davaar’ was built in 1876 for prominent Adelaide wine and spirit merchant Mr William Johnston, who had migrated from Scotland to South Australia.

The mansion was described as

a handsome residence on South-terrace, consisting of 14 rooms, besides pantries, cellars, larder and bathrooms. The rooms are large and well-ventilated, those on the ground floor being 14 feet from floor to ceiling, and on the first floor 13 feet high. The house is fitted up with every requirement for comfort and convenience. The dining and drawing rooms have handsome bay windows, and ceilings furnished with enriched cornices and centre flowers. The entrance-hall is handsomely finished having at the back portion the main staircase, which is of blackwood. The building and fences cost £4,000.

“ Davaar” photographed late 1884-early 1885 , an exceptionally fine example of a residence in the High Victorian Italianate Style. (Photo courtesy State Library of South Australia)

William Johnston lived at Davaar with his second wife Margaret and only daughter Janet
until his death in 1879, after which Margaret returned to live in Scotland, taking Janet with
her, leaving the house in the hands of the Trustees of his estate. Margaret stayed in Scotland but Janet later returned to Adelaide, and after her marriage to Scotsman Dr John Henderson, in 1883, the couple lived in the family home.

The property changed hands a number of times after the Hendersons moved to Mount Lofty in late 1887. Numerous alterations and additions were made to the structure over time and in August 1950, the property was purchased at auction by the Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Association of SA (T.P.I.) for £15,000. The T.P.I. Association provided support for veterans here from 1951 to 2009.

If you’ve driven past the corner of Hutt Street and South Terrace recently you may have seen the site under development. Davaar House will be restored to its former glory as the lobby for an eight-storey $25 million hotel overlooking the parklands. Currently looking a little worse-for-wear, the ground floor rooms will be converted into the hotel’s lobby and meeting rooms while upstairs will be converted into accommodation.

But before that happens, let’s take a look inside Adelaide’s house of Davaar: