Adelaide and South Australia as a whole has many incredible abandoned places and Urbex locations to explore. Some people may see Adelaide as a backwater, but eventually people find out that small sleepy towns can have some big secrets. Adelaide has Abandoned Asylums, Cult Compounds, Secret Tunnels, Bunkers, Historic Mines, Industrial buildings, Caves, Drains, Car Graveyards, Theatres, WW2 Military relics, Churches – you name it, we’ve got it.
I’ve had the privilege to explore some of the best places Adelaide has to offer. Here are a collection of the blogs I have written along with the photo galleries of Adelaide’s abandoned places. – Jim
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Abandoned Mines and Dugouts in Coober Pedy
Coober Pedy is a Mining town 846km north of Adelaide South Australia, named after the indigenous term "kupa-piti" which means "white fellas hole". As of 2021 the population of Coober Pedy was around 1.5k and over half live underground in dwellings known as "dugouts"....
Agape – Adelaides Abandoned Doomsday Cult Headquarters
In the heart of Oakden, Australia, within the halls of a repurposed mental hospital, the manipulative cult leader Rocco Leo spearheaded the notorious Agape Ministries. This was Adelaide’s own doomsday cult and destroyed the lives of many of its devout followers at the...
Bureau of Meteorology
After four decades of service in weather data collection and analysis, the Bureau of Meteorology's Kent Town weather station closed its doors. The station, an emblem of Adelaide's meteorological history, was recognised for its unique Brutalist architecture that, while...
The Strathmont Centre
Over the last couple of years the Strathmont Center in Oakden became a paradise for South Australian urban explorers. The site was a huge abandoned playground, complete with a gym, pool, theatre, chapel, and a number of villas. Despite the fact that the centre was...
The Windsor Theatre
The Windsor Theatre in Lockleys South Australia was a relic of Adelaide’s suburban theatres. A reminder of a time before television was in everyone’s homes people would regularly come to see the latest Hollywood Blockbuster. As suburban theatres popularity dwindled...
The Dark History of Glenside’s abandoned E-Ward
Driving through the quiet leafy suburbs on the outskirts of Adelaide city is a looming clocktower that can be spotted from Fullarton Road, this is the admin building of Glenside Hospital. Urban explorers in Adelaide have always wished to explore the Abandoned...
The Train Graveyard of Port Pirie
If you are travelling into the old industrial town of Port Pirie (North of Adelaide) chances are you will pass these huge rusting metal hulks. Looming above the arid saltbush and weeds, next to the hum of the electrical substation, you will see four decaying train...
Abandoned House at 354 Marion Road that Burnt Down
At 6pm of October 30th 2021 A fire ripped through the heritage-listed house at 354 Marion Road, completely burning the building to a shell. In this fire, the skylight which was the most impressive part of the house was completely reduced to rubble. Abandoned in 2014...
The Sleep’s Hill Mushroom & Train Tunnels
Just as a trigger warning this post talks about heavy subjects such as sexual abuse etc. The Sleep’s Hill tunnels have a colourful history, originally built as a train tunnel, converted into a mushroom farm and even used to store ammunition and the state archives most...
Rapid Bay Quarry
Rapid Bay is one of South Australia's top destinations on the Fleurieu Peninsula, best known for its jetties, fishing, scuba diving, camping and beach caves. Every year around summertime, you will find hundreds of influencers uploading selfies on the beach, families...
The Adelaide Doomsday Bunker
In the '80s, Before prepping was a widely known hobby, an Adelaide man took it upon himself to build his own doomsday bunker. This was no small 1 room air-raid shelter; it was a fully decked out nuclear bunker that could sustain life underground for the foreseeable...
The Port Adelaide Witch’s House – Debunking a South Australian Urban Legend
Throughout history, innocent women have been accused of being witches by the church and a prime example of this is the Salem Witch trials where puritans incited mass hysteria in a small US town. As a result of this, a total of 19 innocent women were executed for...
Mid-century House
Recently I was contacted by someone who was close to this house I explored and knew all the history of its previous owners. He reached out to me because he recognised the place in my Instagram story and was willing to tell me the in-depth history of the house. Just be...