Dazzeland Explained

Dazzeland
Resort:Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Opening Date:1991[1]
Closing Date:[2]
Coasters:1
Slogan:Australia's Premier Indoor Theme Park[3]

Dazzeland was a two-storey family entertainment centre occupying the top levels of the REMM Myer Centre in Rundle Mall, a major shopping mall in Adelaide, Australia.[4] The centre was built between 1988 and 1991, at a cost of $1 billion. Some years later, the centre was sold for $140 million, contributing to the collapse of the State Bank of South Australia.

The park's signature attraction was a figure 8 roller coaster named "Jazz Junction", its track running overhead along the fifth level. Other attractions included dodgem cars, a carousel, a Lego Expo, giant playground, musical fountain, and train.[5]

With the park's closure on 31 January 1998, an attempt was made to fill the upper levels with smaller, higher paying retail tenants. This soon proved unsuccessful in luring the necessary foot traffic, whereby the upper level remained vacant for many years. The remains of Jazz Junction were removed during 2003 as part of the renovation of the Myer Centre.

A Fernwood Fitness Centre gym was located in part of the space during the early 2000s; as of December 2009, Fernwood had relocated to the Renaissance Centre (primarily occupied by Toys "R" Us until its closure in early 2012, being renovated to what is now Kmart, which had opened late November of that year), leaving level 4 entirely empty and closed-off to the public. In March 2013, the centre had commenced an upgrade. In August of that year, the escalators (sealed off from levels 4 and 5 since the park's closure) were removed completely, as part of the upgrade.

In late 2015, it was announced that Dazzeland will return in 2016 as a venue for the Adelaide Festival of Arts.[6]

In early 2019, part of level 4 became the new location of CDW Studios, which had previously been on level 3 alongside Lincraft.

In mid-2021, Adelaide experimental artist Kintsugist released Dazzeland,[7] a Vaporwave Concept album that takes the listener on a journey through the amusement park on its opening day as experienced by through the distractible ears of a child.

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/celebrating-dazzeland-memories/news-story/9d37dba7b0f6d24e51ec971fcb5a6034 Remembering the razzle of Dazzeland at the Myer Centre
  2. News: Chance to buy a fun park. The Advertiser. Adelaide, Australia. 28 February 1998. 96.
  3. News: Advertising:Here's Your Ticket to Ride at Dazzeland . The Times (Victor Harbour) . 91 . 4,423 . South Australia . 16 August 1996 . 28 February 2017 . 9 (TIMES) . National Library of Australia.
  4. http://www.audit.sa.gov.au/Publications/Other-reports/SBSA-1993/Chapter-14 Publications > Other reports > SBSA 1993 > Chapter 14:CASE STUDY IN CREDIT MANAGEMENT: THE REMM GROUP
  5. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20160408065500/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/157540/20160408-1655/www.awesomeadelaide.com/disused-abandoned-buildings-ruins/urban-exploring-dazzeland/index.html Dazzeland — Adelaide
  6. Web site: Myer's Dazzleland keeps its sparkle 18 years on. EVANS. RICHARD . 23 March 2016. The Advertiser. News Corp. 22 July 2017.
  7. Web site: Dazzeland, by Kintsugist. Kintsugist. 2021-08-06.