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Urban Exploring: Gilligan’s Island

Mika Hakkinen Crash

It was Friday, November 10, 1995, on a warm spring morning in Adelaide. The qualifying session for the 1995 Adelaide Grand Prix was well underway when the international TV cameras cut to an establishing shot of the Adelaide race track on Brewery Bend corner.

Formula One world champion Mika Hakkinen‘s red and white McLaren had crashed into the tyre wall.

The broken black tyre marks at the beginning of the curb revealed that his car had careened out of control at tremendous speed off the track.

Hakkinen’s left rear tyre had a blow-out resulting in his car hitting the tyre wall at around 200 kilometers per hour. Hakkinen’s head took a ferocious hit.

“Mika couldn’t move, he wasn’t breathing or communicating in any way with us,” said an intensive care specialist. “But he was alive.”

The impact crushed the base of Hakkinen’s skull, cutting off his breathing. Hospital surgeons at the track fought to save his life, performing an emergency tracheotomy before transporting him to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with head injuries. Their impromptu surgery prevented long term, irreversible brain damage. Hakkinen was in a coma for several days and spent three weeks recovering.

The Push for a Helipad

Dr Eugene (Fred) Gilligan initiated the Royal Adelaide Hospital’s Medical Retrieval Service in 1973.

At the time, critically ill and injured people transported by helicopter had to land on Victoria Park Racecourse and transferred to the Royal Adelaide Hospital by Road.

In 1987, Dr Fred Gilligan and his team prepared a report for the South Australian Government outlining the critical need for a Helipad at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

The Helipad was never commissioned due to lack of funding.

A Gift to the People of South Australia

Dr Fred Gilligan led the medical team which escorted Mika Hakkinen back to London after his crash at the 1995 Adelaide Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Hakkinen openly praised the standard of care he received in Adelaide after the crash. The McLaren team stated that, if it were not for the high quality of treatment Mika would not be alive today.

As a gift to the people of South Australia, Hakkinen donated a substantial un-disclosed sum of money to help build the much needed Helipad for The Royal Adelaide Hospital. It was a ‘Thank-you’ gift for saving his life.

Royal Adelaide Hospital Helipad with SGIC 1 Helicopter comp. Mika Hakkinen.
Royal Adelaide Hospital Helipad with SGIC 1 Helicopter comp. Mika Hakkinen. (Source: Alan Hoare)

On 11 March 1997, 16 months after the accident, Mika Hakkinen flew into Adelaide with the then Premier John Olsen on board the Rescue 1 Helicopter for the official opening of the $2.1 million dollar Royal Adelaide Hospital rooftop Helipad.

The Helipad was constructed on the rooftop of the Outpatient Building of the Old Royal Adelaide Hospital. A lift was also incorporated in the construction allowing patients to be immediately transferred to the Emergency Department.

Photograph of The Royal Adelaide Hospital Helipad signed by Mika Hakkinen.
Photograph of The Royal Adelaide Hospital Helipad signed by Mika Hakkinen. (Source: Health Museum of South Australia)

The new Helipad decreased the transport time by up to 30 minutes for patients arriving by air, and since its construction, saved many lives.

“Gilligan’s Island”

The Helipad was affectionately named “Gilligan’s Island” by retrieval services staff after Dr Eugene (Fred) Gilligan.  

Dr Gilligan started the Royal Adelaide Hospital Retrieval Service in 1973 and retired in April 2002 after hundreds of thousands of kilometers of rescue flights.

Gilligan’s Island stopped receiving helicopters in September 2017 and has remained un-used for over a year.

Late last week marked the end for the historic Helipad.

Demolition contractors removed it as part of the ongoing demolition and remediation of the Old Royal Adelaide Hospital site.

Old Royal Adelaide Hospital Helipad, Gilligan's Island, Disused Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Old Royal Adelaide Hospital Helipad, Gilligan's Island, Disused Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Old Royal Adelaide Hospital Helipad, Gilligan's Island, Disused Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Old Royal Adelaide Hospital Helipad, Gilligan's Island, Disused Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Old Royal Adelaide Hospital Helipad, Gilligan's Island, Disused Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Old Royal Adelaide Hospital Helipad, Gilligan's Island, Disused Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Old Royal Adelaide Hospital Helipad, Gilligan's Island, Disused Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Old Royal Adelaide Hospital Helipad, Gilligan's Island, Disused Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Old Royal Adelaide Hospital Helipad, Gilligan's Island, Disused Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Old Royal Adelaide Hospital Helipad, Gilligan's Island, Disused Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Old Royal Adelaide Hospital Helipad, Gilligan's Island, Disused Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Old Royal Adelaide Hospital Helipad, Gilligan's Island, Disused Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Old Royal Adelaide Hospital Helipad, Gilligan's Island, Disused Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.

Disused / Abandoned Buildings & Ruins, Urban Exploring (Urbex) , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Urban Exploring: LeCornu Furniture

Phillip Joshua Le Cornu

In 1854, Phillip Joshua Le Cornu migrated from the UK to South Australia. He leased a small shop at 66 O’Connel Street North Adelaide and started a ‘cabinet manufactory’ business and begun to produce furniture.

At the time, he wouldn’t have imagined that it would become one of Adelaide’s most iconic businesses.

North Adelaide Factory

In 1908, Phillip Joshua’s son Philip Hammond took over management of the business. He was a skilled cabinetmaker like his father.

The factory was expanded in 1924 bringing its number of employees to 30. At this time, Le Cornu started supplying furniture throughout the state.

‘Factory-To-You’ Sales Success

In 1954, Lance Le Cornu, grandson of Philip Hammond Le Cornu, took over the management of Le Cornu and formed Le Cornu Limited.

Under Lance’s direction, Le Cornu began advertising their ‘factory to you’ sales. It was an instant success. Customers lined up outside the store each morning eagerly waiting for it to open. The public demand was so strong that other manufacturers were invited to sell their goods through the Le Cornu store in order to meet demand!

The Keswick Chrysler Assembly Plant

With business thriving, Le Cornu purchased the 9-acre Chrysler car assembly site on Anzac Highway at Keswick. A huge warehouse / showroom with extensive car parking was built, which was twice the size of the North Adelaide site.

Le Cornu’s had now become the largest furniture store in Australia!

Le Cornu Showroom & furniture displays.
Le Cornu Showroom & furniture displays.

The new Le Cornu store at Keswick was officially opened by Premier Don Dunstan in 1974. It was the world’s largest self-service furniture warehouse/showroom and featured a childcare facility, a restaurant and 200 fully-decorated room displays.

Le Cornu’s Continued Success

After continued growth from successful TV advertising and newspaper ads, a further 5,000 square metres was added to the Keswick site.

Le Cornue Expansion Now Open
Le Cornu Expansion ‘Now Open’ to the public.

In 1989, Premier John Bannon officially opened the new expansion.

The Le Cornu’s store underwent another massive transformation in 2011 reinvigorating the brand with a stylish new look. It is in this state that the site remained until its closure on October 9, 2016.

Abandoned and Demolished

For 2+ years the Le Cornu Keswick site sat abandoned. A few of us eager explorers we able to visit the warehouse and showrooms before its impending demise. The site has now been under demolition for the past month with the site expected to be fully leveled by the end of the week.

LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.
LeCornu Furniture, Abandoned Building Photographs, Keswick, South Australia.

Disused / Abandoned Buildings & Ruins, Urban Exploring (Urbex) , , , , , , , , , ,

Urban Exploring: Balfours Cafe & Tea Rooms

Scottish baker James Calder and his wife, Margaret (née Balfour), were bound for Melbourne when the trials of a long sea voyage led them to disembark in the newly-established town of Adelaide instead. That decision in 1852 marked the start of a South Australian baking dynasty that was to last for the next 150 years.

Elizabeth Balfour

Suspected image of Elizabeth Balfour c. 1910.
Suspected image of Elizabeth Balfour c.1910.

Elizabeth Balfour was the mastermind behind the company’s first Tea Rooms, and later its successful cafés.

In 1894, after her family’s devastating business losses during the depression of the 1890s, Elizabeth Balfour at the age of 53 stepped up; determined to rebuild her family name. She opened what was to become the famous Adelaide Balfour’s Cafe at 74 Rundle Street (now 72 Rundle Mall). Elizabeth would have hardly imagined how successful her new venture would become, because for the next 110 years there would be a Balfours Café at 74 Rundle Street.

Balfours Cafe, Adelaide c. 1924
Balfours Cafe, Adelaide c. 1924

She modelled the building with women in mind — the cake shop facing the street and the ladies’ lounge with bright wallpaper and attractive furnishings on the same level. Upstairs was modelled for the gentlemen; with a smoking lounge.

In 1900, the first public electrical power was being supplied throughout Adelaide. In 1902, electricity was installed inside Balfours Café and “beautifully ornamented mirrors” were added to lighten up the long, narrow Ladies’ Lounge. It was an atmosphere designed to entice fashionable women.

In 1920, street re-numbering in Adelaide changed the Balfour’s Café address to 72 Rundle Street (later to become Rundle Mall).

1920’s Extensive Re-modelling

Premises of Balfour Wauchope Limited c1926.
Premises of Balfour Wauchope Limited c1926.

In the early 1920’s, one of Adelaide’s most noted architects, Louis Laybourne-Smith, designed the upper levels of Balfour’s Café, adding the distinctive glass and steel studio-style window facade that you see today. The newly designed Cafe was officially opened on September 30, 1924 with the windows flooding the upper levels of the cafe with natural light. It is in this state that the building remains today.

During this period Balfours’ product range begins to focus on pies, pasties, sausage rolls, custard tarts and donuts, rather than the biscuits of the early years. It was at this time one of Balfours’ signature products is born: the frog cake.

Having a tasty Balfours pie at lunch time has always been a favorite past-time of many South Australians. Many of you would remember the classic Balfours advertisement that ran on television in the 90’s.

 

The iconic Balfours Café catered for the people of Adelaide until its closure in 2004. Since then it has been home to a handful of retail shops who have only utilized the ground floor and basement areas of building. The rest of the building has remained disused and abandoned since then.

Balfours Cafe c1991.
Balfours Cafe c1991.

While exploring the building over the last couple of years we found it has structurally remained pretty much the same since its 1920s renovation except for some internal false walls and floors. The original Balfours Cafés’ ceiling is still evident along with the adorned wall mirrors. Behind the heritage-listed facade, the original Balfours insignia can still be found.

Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.
Balfours Tea Rooms, Abandoned Building Photographs, Adelaide, South Australia.

Disused / Abandoned Buildings & Ruins, Urban Exploring (Urbex) , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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