Epic footage emerges of a free ‘adventure playground’ built in South Australia in the 1980s – but the ‘child-safe’ park that replaced it will infuriate you
- Monash Adventure Park Playground was one of SA’s biggest attractions in 80s
- The park closed down in 1992 before reopening in 1996 with child-safe rides
- The giant slide and swing set have been replaced as well as the rollercoaster
Old footage of a South Australian playground has resurfaced after the park underwent a significant transformation.
Children flocked to the Monash Adventure Park Playground, around 240km north-east of Adelaide, every day during the 1970s and 80s.
First built in the 1960s by Monash local Grant Telfer, the park quickly became a paradise for Australians due to its wild rides and free entry.
The park closed down in the early 1990s after a visitor reportedly filed an insurance and injury claim, but it reopened in 1996.
To many, the adventure park was a symbol of their childhood but some believe the drastic child-safe transformation has taken away the magic of the playground.
Children and adults are seen playing on the spinning rides at the Monash Adventure Park Playground during the 1980s
A child is seen playing on one of the many daring rides at the South Australian park while the giant slide can be seen in the background
In newly resurfaced footage taken during the 1980s, children and their parents are seen carelessly sliding down giant slides and riding flying foxes.
A group of young kids are seen grinning from ear to ear as they play on a makeshift rollercoaster that speeds up and down an old wooden track.
Most of the rides were built with scrap metal by Mr Telfer himself over a 20-year period.
No supervisors, workers or entry fees meant visitors could spend days on end trying out each daring aspect of the adventure park.
Families often drove for hours on end just to spend a day at the popular amusement park, with visitors flocking in from around the country.
Most of the rides were built with scrap metal by creator, Grant Telfer, over a 20 year period
There were no supervisors, workers or an entry fee meaning the playground was an endless paradise for children all over the country
The flying fox was a popular attraction at the playground before it was shut down in the early 90s
While the newly refurbished park is still free, the rides have been heavily adapted to ensure a safer environment for kids.
Gone is the rollercoaster and giant slide, with the new park instead hosting a maze and child-friendly see-saw.
While a shorter slide and swing set is still available, the park is vastly different to its once wild state which attracted up to 300,000 visitors every year.
The wooden and metal rides have been replaced with plastic while the dirt ground has been filled with rubber mulch.
The park reportedly closed down in 1992 after a visitor filed an insurance and injury claim
The new park which was refurbished in 1996 looks nothing like the original playground
The giant swing remains at the playground. It reopened to the public in 1996 after closing for four years
Facebook pages have been created dedicated to restoring the memory of the older park.
‘Visited a number of times when I was younger – now it seems to be a plastic place wrapped in cotton wool for the kids of today – so no interest in returning,’ one wrote.
‘It’s now a cotton wool adventure park,’ another said.
‘Spent many hours of my childhood there…some of the best days of my life!!! The best place to be as a kid! What a shame…kids these days have been robbed of this amazing extreme playground for kids and adults alike!’ said another.
The new park includes toilets, BBQ areas for families and a basketball court.
The playground remains free but a dollar coin donation is encouraged.
The updated Monash Adventure park now includes a maze after losing some of the iconic rides from the 80s