An Alleged Haunting in Kurralta Park

 An Alleged Haunting in Kurralta Park Kmart

 

  The following story was relayed to me by a former worker at the store. It is their personal recollection and in no way reflects the views of Kmart or the owners or operators of Kurralta Central shopping precinct. It is an anecdotal account and should be treated as such.

  153 Anzac Highway, Kurralta Park, is home to one of the oldest Kmart stores in South Australia. It was reportedly the fifth Kmart store to open in Australia and the second in South Australia, after the store at Ingle Farm. The Kurralta Park Kmart opened in 1969.

  At the time, Kmart was a relatively new concept in Australia: a large discount department store offering a broad range of inexpensive household goods, clothing, toys and other merchandise. Its arrival in Kurralta Park was part of the rapid expansion of the Kmart/Coles retail operation during the late 1960s.
  The West Torrens Historical Society lists the property, before Kmart, as “Furniture Works.”[1] Before that, according to an oral history interview with George Hague, who lived in Kurralta Park from 1917 until 1982, the surrounding land was used for cattle, dairies, wheat growing, farming and irrigation.[2]

The origins of Kurralta Park

 The suburb of Kurralta Park takes its name from the estate of Dr William Wyatt (1805–1886). Wyatt owned a residence near Burnside called Kurralta, which the West Torrens Historical Society notes has been variously described as an Aboriginal word meaning “up there” or “on the hill.”[3]

  Wyatt initially owned Section 93, Hundred of Adelaide, part of which is now Kurralta Park. Following subdivision, Section 52 was divided into hundreds of allotments and sold in 1918.

  The subdivision was originally intended to be named Galway Park, in honour of Governor Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Galway KCMG DSO. However, the Nomenclature Board rejected the name because it duplicated an existing name. A Survey Department officer subsequently suggested Kurralta Park, because of its association with Dr Wyatt.[4]

From Kmart to Kurralta Central

The property is now known as Kurralta Central and has also previously been referred to as Kurralta Village. However, the shopping-centre site has a retail history stretching back to the opening of the Kmart store in 1969.

The centre underwent a significant redevelopment in 2000, transforming the site into the shopping precinct familiar to many residents today. In 2025, the centre was sold to South Australian developer Taplin Group for $75.2 million.

 

Ghosts:

 A former worker claimed that when working in the lay-by department of the Kmart, staff would often feel paranoia, as if being watched. She claimed that a black shadow, or phantom, was often seen in the area.  The ‘shadow’ was described as ‘ominous, totally black like a void, silent, threatening and scary!’

 Ig f you’ve encountered this alleged haunting, we would love to hear your experiences. Use the comments below or email us directly.

 

Allen Tiller © 2026

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[1] Kurralta Park Places, West Torrens Historical Society, 2026. https://www.westtorrenshistory.org/places/kurralta-park-places

[2] George Hague, Kurralta Park, interview, 1982 (LH0340-01), West Torrens Historical Society. State Library of South Australia record.

[3] Kurralta Park Places, West Torrens Historical Society, 2026. https://www.westtorrenshistory.org/places/kurralta-park-places

[4] Kurralta Park Places, West Torrens Historical Society, 2026. https://www.westtorrenshistory.org/places/kurralta-park-places

 Alpine Restaurant 

The "Alpine" restaurant was in the South Parklands of Adelaide, South Australia. It was designed by the office of the Adelaide City Council Building Surveyor. It was built by E Moroni & Co.

Alpine originally opened in January 1963 in Veale Gardens (corner of South Terrace and Peacock Road, Adelaide). Today, the landmark building operates as the Adelaide Pavilion, a private function and event venue rather than an à la carte public restaurant.

These photographs were taken by The Advertiser Newspapers Ltd.
The photographs were published in Cross-Section no. 127, Mar 1963.
Source: https://csec.esrc.unimelb.edu.au/image_viewer.htm?CSEC00275,6

 Torrens Weir Restaurant

May 1961

 Architect: Hassell & McConnell, builder: Marshall & Brougham Ltd 

This photo is from a later date in the 1960s.

Historic Properties:  Tenterden House, Woodville

1901 - The Advertiser

  Tenterden House, in Woodville, South Australia, occupied a wedge of land at the intersection of Findon Road and Woodville Road. Throughout the twentieth century, the property fulfilled a succession of significant public functions, reflecting the changing social, military and immigration priorities of both the Commonwealth and the State of South Australia. During the Second World War it became a hostel for women employed in munitions production; in the post-war period it became an important reception and accommodation centre for assisted migrants before ultimately being incorporated into the expanding precinct of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

  The Government acquired Tenterden House from Dr L. J. Dunstone on 11 December 1941 for £3,500. The acquisition formed part of the Commonwealth’s wartime programme to provide accommodation for workers employed in essential defence industries.
In early 1942, the property became the site of the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), which used it as a hostel for young, unmarried women engaged in munitions work.
 The principal residence comprised two storeys, each containing five principal rooms, together with a dining room, pantry, linen press and four cellars. Several of the principal rooms—including the billiard room, drawing room and dining hall—were of generous proportions and were readily adapted for communal use. 
  

Transition to a Migrant Hostel

  On 27 August 1948, ownership of Tenterden House was transferred from the Commonwealth Government to the Government of South Australia. Administration of the hostel remained with the YWCA under lease from the State.
  With the conclusion of hostilities, the purpose of the establishment altered to meet the demands of Australia's post-war immigration programme. Tenterden House subsequently accommodated state-assisted migrants arriving from numerous European and other countries under Commonwealth and State migration schemes. As one of South Australia's migrant reception facilities, it played a significant role in the settlement of newly arrived families and individuals during the decades following the Second World War.

Association with The Queen Elizabeth Hospital

The continuing expansion of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, located nearby, brought further changes to the use of the property. On 1 March 1954, the Board of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, acting on behalf of the State Government, resolved that the lease with the YWCA should include a provision requiring accommodation at Tenterden House to be made available for hospital nursing staff whenever required.

This arrangement reflected the increasing demand for residential accommodation associated with the hospital and demonstrated the property's continuing importance within the broader public infrastructure of the western suburbs.

Later Uses and Closure

As assisted migration declined during the 1960s and 1970s, the function of Tenterden House evolved once again. The hostel provided accommodation for students attending country schools and, during 1974–1975, temporarily housed South Australians displaced by Cyclone Tracy following the evacuation of Darwin.

By July 1977, the large pavilion situated on the property had been transferred to Woodville Primary School, while the rear annexe had been converted for use as administrative offices for The Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The establishment, by then known as the State Immigration Centre, ceased operations in late 1977, and immigration personnel vacated the premises during 1978. In 1979, following a formal approach to the State Government, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital acquired Tenterden House in its own right. Redevelopment of the site continued, culminating in the opening of a new nineteen-bed accommodation facility in 1982.

Historical Significance

The history of Tenterden House illustrates the capacity of a substantial colonial residence to be adapted to successive public purposes over more than forty years. Initially established as accommodation for women employed in wartime munitions production, it subsequently became an important centre for the reception and temporary housing of assisted migrants during one of Australia's largest immigration programmes. Its later association with The Queen Elizabeth Hospital further reflects the changing institutional development of Woodville and the western metropolitan region.

The successive uses of Tenterden House—as a wartime hostel, migrant reception centre, nurses' accommodation, student boarding establishment and emergency housing for Cyclone Tracy evacuees—provide a tangible record of the social and demographic changes that shaped South Australia during the mid-twentieth century. As such, the property occupies a notable place in the history of wartime mobilisation, post-war migration and public health administration in the State.

Tenterden House was demolished in 1996.

 

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2026

References:

https://healthmuseumsa.org.au/history/tenterden-house/

Historic Properties: SWANSCOMBE - 10 Fuller Street Walkerville

 Historic Properties:

 SWANSCOMBE  - 10 Fuller Street, Walkerville

Swanscombe was built in the early 1840s (c.1844). From 1855 it became the home of Charles Burney Young, who purchased adjoining properties to create an extensive garden estate. The estate extended from Smith Street behind St Andrew's Church, along Fuller Street, and slightly west of the house.

Charles Burney Young and his wife, Nora Creina Young, arrived in South Australia aboard the Flora Kerr, sailing from England on 16 November 1854. On their arrival, they were welcomed by Wilfrid Kent Hughes at "Avenel" on Robe Terrace, North Adelaide. Their second child was born there but sadly died in infancy. The family later lived in Ward Street, North Adelaide, before Charles was appointed a draughtsman with the Public Works Department in 1856 and soon afterwards became a government surveyor.

Charles Burney Young was a distinguished surveyor and pastoralist who owned Kanmantoo Station. He is also remembered for recognising the potential of the gifted 13-year-old Aboriginal boy David Unaipon, whom he brought from the Point Pearce Mission to Adelaide to further his education.

Nora was the daughter of Major General Bacon and Lady Charlotte Bacon (1801–1880), who before her marriage was Lady Charlotte Harley. Celebrated for her beauty, Lady Charlotte was immortalised by Lord Byron as "Ianthe" in Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. Nora had married Charles at the age of 16 in Swanscombe, Kent, before emigrating to South Australia.

Lady Charlotte joined her family in Adelaide in 1865 and lived there until 1877, becoming one of the colony's most admired social figures and often described as the "toast of the town". Nora remained at Swanscombe despite losing her sight later in life and lived there until she died in 1925.

researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2026

The Haunts of Adelaide: History, Mystery and the Paranormal — Revised Edition

The Haunts of Adelaide: History, Mystery and the Paranormal — Revised Edition

By Allen Tiller

What secrets lie behind Adelaide’s most enduring ghost stories?

Award-winning historian and paranormal researcher Allen Tiller returns with a completely revised and rewritten edition of The Haunts of Adelaide: History, Mystery and the Paranormal.

This new edition goes deeper into Adelaide’s haunted history, featuring additional historical research, new photographs, extensive footnotes, an index—and, most importantly, more ghost stories.

Join Allen Tiller as he explores some of the most haunted locations across Adelaide and its suburbs, uncovering the history behind the buildings, the people who lived and worked there, the urban legends that grew around them, and the ghosts said to remain.


Discover the stories of Graham’s Castle, Younghusband Mansion, the Adelaide Arcade and Waterfall Gully. Investigate the mystery of Schneider’s Alley and uncover the strange story of the Union Hotel tiger.

Drawing on years of historical and paranormal research, Tiller examines the stories behind Adelaide’s hauntings, exploring where history ends and legend begins.
Thirty stories from the other side.
The Haunts of Adelaide: History, Mystery and the Paranormal — Revised Edition takes you deeper into the history, mystery and folklore of one of Australia’s most haunted cities.


Buy now: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B08JLQLLC5


#Adelaide #theHauntsofAdelaide #squattersarms #AllenTiller #history #mystery #paranormal #truecrime #trueghoststories

 A Ghost at World’s End

 Near Burra in South Australia's Mid North lies a place with one of the state's most intriguing names—World's End.

The settlement of Lapford, surveyed in 1877, was once located in what is now known as World's End. Although the township was planned, it never really took off. Even so, the district had a thriving community for many years. A post office operated from 1876 until 1971; a school opened in 1888 and closed in 1941 due to a shortage of teachers; and a Wesleyan church served the community from 1889 until 1975. Today, the ruins of many of these buildings can still be seen along the World's End driving trail.

The origin of the name "World's End" has inspired a few stories over the years. One popular tale links it to Goyder's Line, suggesting it marked the edge of reliable farming country. It's a romantic idea, but it isn't true. The name predates Goyder's Line by 15 years. It was given by Scotsman Donald McDonald, who established the World's End pastoral station in 1851.[1]

For a Scot, the name "World's End" would have carried a very different meaning. It recalls the aftermath of the Battle of Flodden in 1513, when the English defeated the Scots. Fearing Edinburgh was left vulnerable, King James IV ordered defensive walls to be built around the city. A pub just beyond those walls became known as the World's End because it stood outside the city's protection—the point where the safe world ended. That historic pub still exists today, and the present building stands on the foundations of the original Flodden Wall.[2]

The Edinburgh World's End was just one of many inns and pubs that adopted the name on the outskirts of Scottish towns. Donald McDonald, who came from Aberdeenshire, would also have been familiar with World's End House, built there in 1767 and associated with the Scottish folk tale of the Well of World's End.[3] With such familiar and affectionate associations back home, it's easy to see why McDonald chose the name for his pastoral run in colonial South Australia.

 In 1908, at The World’s End, South Australia, it was reported that multiple ghosts had been terrifying residents in the area. One incident involved a team of horses that took off from their owner after encountering a ghost. A ‘white-robed’ ghost had been witnessed by the driver of the horses. The ghost scared the horses so much that they got spooked and fled. In an interview with the Burra Record (newspaper), the witness elaborated that it was not a white-robed ghost he had seen, but the ghosts of a little girl and a little boy. He stated in an interview, ‘it was on account of their tender years that he decided to speak to them concerning their early morning travels, and as he did so the forms disappeared, in the most mysterious fashion.’[4]

 

 On another occasion, a woman was doing her laundry. She pinned some white bed sheets to her clothesline. Later that evening, she went out to collect her sheets and noticed one had been removed and thrown some distance away. Rather than being logical and thinking the wind did it, she instantly went to ghosts being the cause! She rallied her family, they armed themselves with sticks and other weapons, and went and beat the bed sheet, as if it were the ghosts, only to find it was just a bed sheet.[5]

Have you been to World’s End? Have you seen a ghost? Let me know in the comments.

© 2026 Allen Tiller

www.allentiller.com.au

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[1] 'Late William McDonald', The Proserpine Guardian, (29 February 1936), p. 6.

[2] About The World’s End, Belhaven, (2026), https://www.belhaven.co.uk/pubs/edinburgh/worlds-end

[3] Joseph Jacobs, ‘The Well of the World’s End’, (1890), https://www.authorama.com/english-fairy-tales-44.html

[4] 'The Ghosts.', Burra Record, (25 November 1908), p. 2.

[5] 'The Ghost.', Burra Record, (18 November 1908), p. 2.