Dazzleland

[Will]

I thought we had a "defunct places of Adelaide" thread, but I was unable to find it, and hence because i was unable to find another appropriate thread to palce this, I have decided to create this thread devoted to Dazzleland.

I'll start by placing this brochure I have just found whilst going through some of the boxes in the garage. Thankfully this wasn't thrown away.

[Omicron]

There's a definite movement these days to bring back elements of the past that we discarded too quickly - think bank branches and branch managers, corner stores, outdoor shopping strips, and so on. Could Dazzeland survive a rebirth?

Incidentally, I'm surprised to see 'Dazzeland' in official marketing communications - it never occurred to me to spell it any other way but 'Dazzleland'.

[cruel_world00]

I want to know how the hell the abomination that is the Myer Centre could have been built for $1 Billion dollars. Facepalm.

[Prince George]

"Australia's premier indoor theme park" -- I wonder what exactly was the supposed 'theme'. Was there really a time that an advert like this could have swayed people, ah, we were more innocent then. *sighs wistfully*

Incidentally, I'm surprised to see 'Dazzeland' in official marketing communications - it never occurred to me to spell it any other way but 'Dazzleland'.

Perhaps that's why it withered on the vine: nobody could find it in the phone book.

[monotonehell]

"Australia's premier indoor theme park" -- I wonder what exactly was the supposed 'theme'. Was there really a time that an advert like this could have swayed people, ah, we were more innocent then. *sighs wistfully*

The theme was fantasy jazz band. All the attractions had some aspect of this from the magical jazz fountain (you can see some of the fountain's characters in the brochure) to the jazz themed suspended roller coaster. There was hints of melody, piano keyboards and so on in every aspect of the design when it first opened. There was even a bandstand on the lower level. (it probably was Australia's premier indoor theme park at the time, all the other ones I can think of elsewhere opened after Dazzeland)

I think the reason Dazzeland failed was the same reason a lot of things failed in Adelaide during the '90s -- the Asian financial crisis on top of the South Australian financial crisis. Every business in Adelaide at the time was pared back to absolute utilitarian needs. Most operations were run on a shoestring. Families cut right back on discretionary spending and entertainment spending most of all. $8.50 a head back then was expensive when you could get a happy meal for a couple of dollars in a McDonald's birthday room.

There were probably other reasons like location. So many things were lost this way in the '90's recession. Remember Timezone:Meridian on Hindley street?

[The Scooter Guy]

I've never been to this place... I did see its ads on TV though! It has remained closed to public with the escalators walled up. Thanks for uploading the brochure!

[Aidan]

The theme was fantasy jazz band. All the attractions had some aspect of this from the magical jazz fountain (you can see some of the fountain's characters in the brochure) to the jazz themed suspended roller coaster. There was hints of melody, piano keyboards and so on in every aspect of the design when it first opened. There was even a bandstand on the lower level. (it probably was Australia's premier indoor theme park at the time, all the other ones I can think of elsewhere opened after Dazzeland)

I don't think it was even South Australia's premier indoor theme park at the time - remember Magic Mountain?

Of course if you measured in terms of visitor numbers alone then Dazzeland was probably way ahead - but I doubt it could've surpassed its equivalent in the Brisbane Myer Centre.

[monotonehell]

Magic Moutain had the water slides and so on, but I remember it to be not as good as Dazzeland. Especially in the themeing. Apparently the old Magic Mountain bought some of Dazzeland's old theme props when it closed. That fish bike in the brochure ended up in Magic Mountain.

Picture of Jazz Junction (the myer centre's roller coaster):
http://www.rcdb.com/2313.htm?p=7834

[AtD]

My favourite part of Dazzeland was the level crossings where one of the rides crossed the walkway.

[The Scooter Guy]

More pics are very hard to find, apart from these:



BTW, the coffee shop was one of the remaining parts. Has anyone taken pics of the other remaining parts?

[Hooligan]

I moved to Adelaide the year it closed down

[Omicron]

My favourite part of Dazzeland was the level crossings where one of the rides crossed the walkway.

Gasp! Yes!

[The Scooter Guy]

Some people believed that an anonymous individual from Melbourne bought the rollercoaster at auction with plans to erect it at his home.
Maybe one day when I go to the Myer Centre, I'll take an explore of the former Dazzleland floors, hoping I'm not going hear someone say "Get outta here!"

[monotonehell]

Some people believed that an anonymous individual from Melbourne bought the rollercoaster at auction with plans to erect it at his home.
Maybe one day when I go to the Myer Centre, I'll take an explore of the former Dazzleland floors, hoping I'm not going hear someone say "Get outta here!"

There's no reason why you can't be up there (on the walkways at least) the door to Myer's upper floor is often open, right in front of the former musical fountain. It's how ladies get to Fernwood. I took a look around earlier this year. At the time they had most of the eastern end under tarps with a lot of welding and angle grinding going on. Never did see if anything came of that.

[baytram366]

I remember Dazzeland well only becuase I was always promised that we would be taken up there one day.. and then of course it closed so never actually got to go up there but I still remember looking up years later and seeing the tracks for the roller coaster. What year were they taken away? And what year did it actually close?
Dazzeland is up there with the Restaurant Tram for me - always got promised we would go on that too but then that shut down as well. Only good thing is, the Resturant Tram (H type 378) can still be seen at the tram museum.
Also, talking about Magic Mountain paying things - what happened to all of Magic Mountains attractions when that closed? Eg. the merry- go- round etc.