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Urban Exploring (Urbex)

An insight into Adelaide’s Urban Exploration (Urbex) Sites…

Urban Exploring: LeCornu Furniture

Phillip Joshua Le Cornu

In 1854, Phillip Joshua Le Cornu migrated from the UK to South Australia. He leased a small shop at 66 O’Connel Street North Adelaide and started a ‘cabinet manufactory’ business and begun to produce furniture.

At the time, he wouldn’t have imagined that it would become one of Adelaide’s most iconic businesses.

North Adelaide Factory

In 1908, Phillip Joshua’s son Philip Hammond took over management of the business. He was a skilled cabinetmaker like his father.

The factory was expanded in 1924 bringing its number of employees to 30. At this time, Le Cornu started supplying furniture throughout the state.

‘Factory-To-You’ Sales Success

In 1954, Lance Le Cornu, grandson of Philip Hammond Le Cornu, took over the management of Le Cornu and formed Le Cornu Limited.

Under Lance’s direction, Le Cornu began advertising their ‘factory to you’ sales. It was an instant success. Customers lined up outside the store each morning eagerly waiting for it to open. The public demand was so strong that other manufacturers were invited to sell their goods through the Le Cornu store in order to meet demand!

The Keswick Chrysler Assembly Plant

With business thriving, Le Cornu purchased the 9-acre Chrysler car assembly site on Anzac Highway at Keswick. A huge warehouse / showroom with extensive car parking was built, which was twice the size of the North Adelaide site.

Le Cornu’s had now become the largest furniture store in Australia!

Le Cornu Showroom & furniture displays.
Le Cornu Showroom & furniture displays.

The new Le Cornu store at Keswick was officially opened by Premier Don Dunstan in 1974. It was the world’s largest self-service furniture warehouse/showroom and featured a childcare facility, a restaurant and 200 fully-decorated room displays.

Le Cornu’s Continued Success

After continued growth from successful TV advertising and newspaper ads, a further 5,000 square metres was added to the Keswick site.

Le Cornue Expansion Now Open
Le Cornu Expansion ‘Now Open’ to the public.

In 1989, Premier John Bannon officially opened the new expansion.

The Le Cornu’s store underwent another massive transformation in 2011 reinvigorating the brand with a stylish new look. It is in this state that the site remained until its closure on October 9, 2016.

Abandoned and Demolished

For 2+ years the Le Cornu Keswick site sat abandoned. A few of us eager explorers we able to visit the warehouse and showrooms before its impending demise. The site has now been under demolition for the past month with the site expected to be fully leveled by the end of the week.

LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.

Disused / Abandoned Buildings & Ruins, Urban Exploring (Urbex) , , , , , , , , , ,

Urban Exploring: Balfours Cafe & Tea Rooms

Scottish baker James Calder and his wife, Margaret (née Balfour), were bound for Melbourne when the trials of a long sea voyage led them to disembark in the newly-established town of Adelaide instead. That decision in 1852 marked the start of a South Australian baking dynasty that was to last for the next 150 years.

Elizabeth Balfour

Suspected image of Elizabeth Balfour c. 1910.
Suspected image of Elizabeth Balfour c.1910.

Elizabeth Balfour was the mastermind behind the company’s first Tea Rooms, and later its successful cafés.

In 1894, after her family’s devastating business losses during the depression of the 1890s, Elizabeth Balfour at the age of 53 stepped up; determined to rebuild her family name. She opened what was to become the famous Adelaide Balfour’s Cafe at 74 Rundle Street (now 72 Rundle Mall). Elizabeth would have hardly imagined how successful her new venture would become, because for the next 110 years there would be a Balfours Café at 74 Rundle Street.

Balfours Cafe, Adelaide c. 1924
Balfours Cafe, Adelaide c. 1924

She modelled the building with women in mind — the cake shop facing the street and the ladies’ lounge with bright wallpaper and attractive furnishings on the same level. Upstairs was modelled for the gentlemen; with a smoking lounge.

In 1900, the first public electrical power was being supplied throughout Adelaide. In 1902, electricity was installed inside Balfours Café and “beautifully ornamented mirrors” were added to lighten up the long, narrow Ladies’ Lounge. It was an atmosphere designed to entice fashionable women.

In 1920, street re-numbering in Adelaide changed the Balfour’s Café address to 72 Rundle Street (later to become Rundle Mall).

1920’s Extensive Re-modelling

Premises of Balfour Wauchope Limited c1926.
Premises of Balfour Wauchope Limited c1926.

In the early 1920’s, one of Adelaide’s most noted architects, Louis Laybourne-Smith, designed the upper levels of Balfour’s Café, adding the distinctive glass and steel studio-style window facade that you see today. The newly designed Cafe was officially opened on September 30, 1924 with the windows flooding the upper levels of the cafe with natural light. It is in this state that the building remains today.

During this period Balfours’ product range begins to focus on pies, pasties, sausage rolls, custard tarts and donuts, rather than the biscuits of the early years. It was at this time one of Balfours’ signature products is born: the frog cake.

Having a tasty Balfours pie at lunch time has always been a favorite past-time of many South Australians. Many of you would remember the classic Balfours advertisement that ran on television in the 90’s.

 

The iconic Balfours Café catered for the people of Adelaide until its closure in 2004. Since then it has been home to a handful of retail shops who have only utilized the ground floor and basement areas of building. The rest of the building has remained disused and abandoned since then.

Balfours Cafe c1991.
Balfours Cafe c1991.

While exploring the building over the last couple of years we found it has structurally remained pretty much the same since its 1920s renovation except for some internal false walls and floors. The original Balfours Cafés’ ceiling is still evident along with the adorned wall mirrors. Behind the heritage-listed facade, the original Balfours insignia can still be found.

Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.

Disused / Abandoned Buildings & Ruins, Urban Exploring (Urbex) , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Urban Exploring: Golden Port Tavern

The History

The Golden Port Tavern was originally named the Globe Hotel. She was built in 1865 on the site of a previous hotel which burnt to the ground.

On ground floor was the main bar and snooker area with a small kitchen at the back.

Below ground, a number of rooms with the larger keg room located directly beneath the main bar.

Up-stairs were the guest rooms and a second smaller bar with a balcony looking onto the majestic St. Vincent Street of Port Adelaide.

Globe Hotel, St. Vincent Street, Port Adelaide, c1950.
Globe Hotel, St. Vincent Street, Port Adelaide, c1950. (Source: Supplied)

Ghost or Angel?

Beulah Hayter, an 8-year-old girl, lived with her mother on the first floor. Their room opened up onto the balcony and on warm nights Beulah would sleep outside on the balcony.

On one particular warm night, Beulah was woken by a lady dressed in a white flowing gown standing at the balcony door. At first she thought it was her mother. When she spoke to the woman and there was no answer she got scared and ran into her mothers room to find her sleeping.

Terrified, Beulah spent the night in her mothers bed.

That night a violent storm lashed Port Adelaide and tore the balcony from the hotel. Some say if it hadn’t been for the ghostly lady in white making herself known to Beulah, she would have been killed in the collapse.

Abandoned & Left to Rot

For nearly 150 years The Golden Port Tavern served the patrons of Port Adelaide. It wasn’t until 2008 that her doors closed, and she sat languishing in a state of decay.

For 10 years she sat abandoned. When we entered it was as if time had stood still — a true time capsule of The Port. Glasses were still sitting on their coasters from last drinks. Cue-chalk placed by cue sticks ready for the next game…

Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Golden Port Tavern, Abandoned Building Photographs, Port Adelaide, South Australia.

If you’d like to read other articles of disused and abandoned buildings of The Port, please see The Port Admiral Hotel, The Port Morgue, and Harts Mill.

Disused / Abandoned Buildings & Ruins, Urban Exploring (Urbex) , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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