Abandoned places harbour an uncanny charm. With no soul in sight and time coming to a standstill, these destinations are uniquely neglected yet remain fascinating. From hotels to mansions, schools to underground tunnels, abandoned locations top the list for urban exploration in Australia.
Here’s a closer look at three such abandoned places holding remnants of a glorious past.
Sizzler Restaurants- The Erstwhile Suburban Novelty
Abandoned Sizzler Restaurants go back to 1985, opening its doors for the first time in Brisbane.
As the first-of-its-kind all-you-can-eat buffet, Sizzler took time before expanding to other states. Nevertheless, they managed to retain a quintessential vibe throughout.
The cruel pandemic saw Sizzler closing its doors. And while it was the final peg to the coffin, there’s quite a lot to reconsider. The restaurant chain was known for its green and white panelling and a hit menu with items like the cheese toast served piping hot.
However, what made Sizzler a popular destination was the option to discard regular seafood and steak for the iconic Salad Bar. Yes, this was one hit corner with never-ending access to soups, pasta, potato skins, fruit plates, and classic salads. Among desserts, the ice cream machine was undoubtedly the kid’s favourite.
What once was a cultural phenomenon in the ’90s soon became outdated. Sizzler struggled to keep up with the changing food habits of Aussies, especially the millennials until COVID sealed its fate forever.
Abandoned KFCs- Invoking Mixed Blessings
Undeniably, the architecture of a KFC restaurant is different. The colours, the logo, the storefronts- they effortlessly grab eyeballs from a distance.
While being intimidated by the number of abandoned KFCs is normal, they were the first big restaurant chain on Australian soil. Reportedly, the first KFC restaurant to open its doors was in Guildford, western Sydney suburbs, in 1968. By 1982, Kentucky Fried Chicken had opened more than thirty restaurants across Melbourne and three others in Geelong.
However, it was not until 1992 that the company embraced a smart marketing moniker to do away with the word “Fried”, which sounded “unhealthy” to many. Thus, “KFC” was coined.
In the years that followed, the KFC stores mostly stayed the same. Instead, many of them were either abandoned or brought down forever. From the shrinking size of chicken pieces and poultry shortage to COVID, multiple reasons were cited behind KFC restaurants shutting doors. Take the Ashburton KFC joint, for instance. The place never changed its interior design until it came under the bulldozer in 2007. The Newport KFC witnessed a similar fate.
On a different note, other KFCs, like the Frankston joint, were transformed into an all-Mexican restaurant. Then there’s the Thornbury KFC that witnessed the splitting of the old building as Cheesecake and Subway made a fairy. Not to forget the strangest transformation ever for a KFC joint in Seaford, where a dry cleaning business took over.
The Smorgy’s- The Love and Hate of Aussies
Imagine it’s the late 90s, and you are exhausted and hungry in Melbourne without a clue. Where would you possibly go? The Smorgy’s.
Yes! The former Smorgy’s restaurant burnt down was quite a story, but this chain of restaurants, reminiscent of Polynesian barns, was one-of-a-kind. Sure, it was non-glamorous and being located in the suburbs, it was a turn-off for many. Nevertheless, this one is one of Australia’s most sought-after abandoned places.
Smorgy’s earned quite a reputation for their quirky (or was it notorious) decor. The infamous volcano doors would blast gases, and the Burwood joint had salad bars shaped into boats. The food, particularly, was never that great, but if you talk about quantity, it always fetched full marks. From beef to vegetables, there was a carvery section along with Asian and Italian cuisine.
Anybody who’s been at Smorgy’s must have tried the doughnut machine when picking desserts. They would have it too salty or sweet, from cubed jellies to egg custards. Not sure whether they had other flavours, but that’s what was available primarily.
Smorgy’s was more like the worst indie track you have heard, but it was so bad that it was good. Sure, things could have been much better at Smorgy’s before the chain wrapped up business in the 2000s. However, it still needs to earn its sweet spot in the glorious scrapbook of the past.
Closing Thoughts
In the quiet echoes of these forgotten spaces, one can almost hear the whispers of history. So, there you go with Australia’s three fantastic abandoned places worth checking out. If you are new in town and have a knack for urban exploration, especially for abandoned things, swing by. Happy exploring!
