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
[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
