Naqsh-e Rostam, Shiraz, Iran. Incredible. Here in Iran, the abandoned structures have been abandoned for some time. Outside of the city of Shiraz, in central Iran, lies the incredible series of tombs and artworks known as Naqsh-e Rostam. Construction of these tombs-of-Kings dates back some three thousandyears ago.

Naqsh-e Rostam is quite simply one of the most incredible abandoned sites I have seen in all my travels. Again, as seems to be common with Iran, there were an incredibly small number of people visiting Naqsh-e Rostam on this day. Despite the 14 cents US entry fee, there was myself, Mrs Snaffler, and perhaps five other visitors present during the time I explored and took photos of Naqsh-e Rostam.

Before I talk further about the tombs of Naqsh-e Rostam, I should mention that unfortunately, I’m currently spending a lot of time looking for cruise deals. Mrs Snaffler has decided that if we take the next leg of our holiday on the high seas, on a cruise ship, I can’t possibly drag her along to explore yet another dangerously abandoned building. And I thought a family holiday in Iran would be ideal. I may not be able to get out of this cruise, but I’ll try my best to find a few abandoned islands along the way. Now that I have that off my chest, back to Naqsh-e Rostam.

Naqsh-e Rostam – Necropolis of Kings

The series of tombs at Naqsh-e Rostam are all elaborately carved into the side of a stone mountain side. One can’t help but be amazed at the architectural feat of the builders that constructed the various tombs at. Although the photos go some way to showing the immense scale of these tombs, in real life, they take on a much more towering appearance.

Historically, there was a river running at the base of the tombs of Naqsh-e Rostam. These days, the river has disappeared. The countryside is very dry. Clearly, the designers chose this location for its iconic and serene location – hill on one side, river on the other. However, a couple of millennia later, the entire area is almost a single colour of stone, adding to the surreal-ness of visiting these unique, and fairly unknown, monuments to former Kings.

Naqsh-e Rostam has five tombs, belonging to the Achaemenian Kings Darius 1, 2, and 3, as well as King Artaxerxes, and King Xerxes. Locally, the tombs are known as the Persian Crosses, as the shape of the hillside tombs is, well, a cross. Amongst the tombs, there are seven enormous relief’s chiselled into the mountain, depicting scenes of generally about victorious battles and day-to-day royal life of thousands of years ago.

How to Get to Naqsh-e Rostam, Shiraz, Iran

The Naqsh-e Rostam tombs are located near the city of Shiraz, in Central Iran. They’re around an hour or so by car from the centre of the city. If you do make it to Shiraz, you will easily be able to find a friendly local, or inexpensive taxi, to take you there. Naqsh-e Rostam isn’t far from the ancient abandoned city of Persepolis, you can cruise between the two in easy day trip from Shiraz. In October 2012, the current price is less than $15 US dollars, to hire a private taxi for most of the day (about 6 hours).

To read more about Naqsh-e Rostam, here is a link to the Wikipedia entry.

Dr Hank Snaffler Jr.

PS, travel photography like this is easy. It’s not your camera – you just need to know how to get out of auto. Click here to take your travel photography to the next level. It’s what I refer too constantly – easy, but comprehensive. I personally recommend ”Getting Out of Auto“. 

Well, this is a bit different for Abandoned Journey. I’m currently on holidays in the incredible country of Iran, in the Middle East. Today,I visited the spectacular ruins of Persepolis, an ancient city built over two and a half thousand years ago, and located in present-day central Iran. No, it’s not urban exploration. But, even Dr Snaffler requires a holiday with his family now and then. If I can sneak in a trip to an abandoned city, all the better.

Persepolis is located near the city of Shiraz, Iran. Shiraz makes for a perfect holidays destination in Iran, due to its proximity to a large number of ancient and abandoned sites. Of course, being known for great kebabs and ice-cream doesn’t hurt, except for my waistline that is. Where was I. Oh yes. Persepolis has been abandoned for over 2300 years, having only lasted around 200 years before it was burned to the ground by Alexander the Great.

 
Although it is very much a tourist attraction, Persepolis certainly was abandoned in more ways than one on this day. There were almost no other tourists present. This made for a fascinating day, exploring the abandoned ancient city streets, as well as roaming around the hillside searching for hidden caves and viewing the tombs of ancient Persian Kings.

Persepolis is slowly but surely being restored. For example, of the enormous stone pillars you see in the photos, only three have been re-erected in the last forty years. For the most part, the ruins of Persepolis are exactly as they have been for over two millenia.

Unfortunately for the inhabitants of the time, but fortunately for fans of abandoned cities,  Persepolitan architecture is noted for its use of wooden columns. Architects resorted to stone only when the largest planks of wood did not fulfil the required sizes. Column bases and capitals were made of stone, even on wooden shafts. Thus, when Alexander decided to burn this city, it was indeed almost completely destroyed. Some say you can still see evidence of the flames, some 2300 years later – such was the ferocity of the fire.

 
So, yes, I’m here in Iran. There are a lot of stringent requirements with regards to photography, and trespassing. An Iranian prison is the last place I would like to end up in, so we shall see whether any genuine urban exploration is accomplished whilst I am here. But, the country is a spectacular holiday destination. Iran may not be number one for urban exploration (we’ll see), but it certainly is number one for holidays, in my humble opinion.

Please enjoy the photos from Persepolis, the ancient Persian city in modern-day Iran.

Dr Hank Snaffler Jr.

When I first booked my flights to Christchurch, little did I know what the South Island of New Zealand would have in store. After travelling over the North Island, and seeing some incredible abandoned buildings that just didn’t want to allow me to explore them, today, in the small town of Hokitika, the South Island of New Zealand showed me that there is far more in this part of the world than just glaciers and mountains.

There are many historical buildings in Christchurch, which I visited in the days leading up to my adventure in Hokatika. Unfortunately, this list of historical buildings in Christchurch that collapsed was extensive.  Such heritage buildings  as the Durham Street Methodist Church, the Stone Chamber of the Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings, the Oxford Terrace Baptist Church, and the Sevicke Jones building in Cathedral Square – all fully collapsed during the destructive Christchurch earthquake.

Other listed buildings partially collapsed in Christchurch, and made for eerie viewing. These included the famous  Christchurch Cathedral, the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, and Holy Trinity Avonside.

The Christchurch earthquake may have been recent, but the history of this featured abandoned building began over one hundred years ago. On the 7th May, 1908, the then Prime Minister of New Zealand, Sir J.C Ward, travelled to Hokitika and laid the foundation stone. I can only assume, from some of the evidence and signage still in place, that the building was used as government offices.

Founded in the mid 1800′s, the small town of Hokitika was the centre of the West coast gold rush in New Zealand. Buildings of this size seem out-of-place in a town like Hokitika, as the population is currently only about 3000 residents. However, in 1866, the town was one of New Zealand’s most populous centers, and there remains many striking examples of fine architecture, reminding visitors that Hokitika is a town with a glorious past.

Located on Sewell Street, the building itself consists of two main levels, with a central corridor from one end to the other. There is a grand entrance and staircase at the center of the building. Most of the rooms are small and office-like, however, there are grand rooms at the end of each wing of the building.

The building showed all the signs of the era it was constructed in, such as high quality carpentry, and ornate plaster work. The peeling paint provided a wonderful patina, and combined with the dappled light entering the premises, everything was right for a good dose of exploration as well as photography.

Fortunately, a local resident, “John” that I bumped into whilst poking around on-site, had access to the building, and was more than happy to allow me entrance. He unlocked a couple of doors, and left me to my own devices.

Being in a relatively remote location, the building was remarkably intact. The windows weren’t broken, and apart from some scratchings dating back to the 1960′s, no graffiti was present. It was an “honest” abandoned building. John advised me that the building has been vacant for “oh, quite a long time now”.

Currently for sale, the future of this grand building is up in the air. I could think of many uses for such a structure, and I’m sure one day a new owner will give it the attention it deserves.

I will soon be leaving New Zealand, to continue my exploration of abandoned buildings around the world. If you haven’t already joined, please feel free to follow along by entering your email address over on the side of the page.

Enjoy.

Dr Hank Snaffler Jr.

Bendigo New Zealand is an abandoned gold mining town on the top of an impressive mountain in the South Island of New Zealand. Located near the (not abandoned) town of Cromwell, Bendigo operated as a bustling small town for around half a century, ceasing operations almost one hundred years ago.

This is something a little different here on Abandoned Journey. Usually, my abandoned building reports tend to have a distinctly urban feel to them. Not this time – Bendigo is about as country as it gets. The drive to the top of the mountain, on a steep, narrow, unsealed road, in the RV (or the “Snaffler-Mobile” as I have named it) was sketchy to say the least.

Although the drive was a little hair-raising, the remarkable views and striking remains of the old stone cottages, were worth it. These photos were taken at “Welshtown” – Bendigo was large enough at one point to consist of more than one town. When new, these cottages would have been cozy and well decorated, down to the latest in fashionable wall papers sent direct from London and Paris.

Most of the original structures were made of wood and tin, and have now been reclaimed by time. Fortunately, Bendigo grew wealthy enough, and large enough, that the residents upgraded to stone – the remains of which are still standing a century later.

It was incredibly cold up on the mountain top, but a brisk walking exploration of Bendigo revealed some interesting remains, with at least ten or more stone structures, and various mine shafts. The mine shafts were located within a few minutes walk from the stone cottages.

The ruins of Bendigo reminded me of my holidays to Greece from several years ago – the buildings may not be as impressive as the ruins of the Parthenon in Athens, but the view certainly was. In any case, I enjoyed my time at Bendigo, and although the structures were not as grand as some of those I have explored, the overall feel of the destination made for a great afternoon.

From the abandoned town of Bendigo, I have carried on further South in New Zealand, giving the Snaffler-Mobile a work out in search of more abandoned structures, towns, and well, anything abandoned at all really!

I hope you enjoy the photos of the abandoned town of Bendigo, New Zealand.

Dr Hank Snaffler Jr.

PS, Bendigo is also the name of a former gold mining town in Australia. Bendigo in New Zealand got its name due to the large number of Australian gold miners that made their way over to New Zealand to search for gold in this area.

An abandoned city in New Zealand.

Christchurch is the third largest city in New Zealand. In February of 2011, a powerful earthquake caused severe damage to the city center. Indeed, it was the most destructive earthquake in the history of New Zealand, and 188 people lost their lives.

Today, 18 months later, the city core is off limits, and remains for the most part, abandoned. The buildings are being demolished, one by one. I explored the city streets, where possible, and took a few photos of what has become an abandoned CBD. The only signs of life were demolition crews here and there, and a few people walking around taking photos.

“Earthquake tourism” is a strange phenomenon. Perhaps abandoned and decayed buildings are more popular than I thought. Whilst I suspect most regular tourists are booking trips to Spain, there certainly was more than a handful of people in Christchurch who were there purely to view the abandoned city. I even saw a “Red Zone Tour Bus” – the red zone being the heart  of the city that remains off-limits due to the extreme danger present.

Christchurch produced mixed emotions within me, as I wondered around the desolate streets. On one hand, this was an absolute playground for urbex and abandoned building fans. On the other, this was a scene of extreme destruction, and danger even greater than the fifty story abandoned skyscraper I scaled in Bangkok.

Although I snuck through a fence or two, I wasn’t game to enter the buildings. There was at least one army patrol, and really, to what level am I willing to take my hobby? I’m not willing to risk my life – and that is what it comes down to in this situation.

My thoughts go out to those people of Christchurch who have suffered through the earthquake and the aftermath.

The city centre will remain off-limits, and abandoned, for some time yet. There were countless buildings that required demolition. If you would like to read more about the Christchurch earthquake, here is a link to the wikipedia article. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Christchurch_earthquake

I will continue to explore the wonderful country of New Zealand, and look for some abandoned buildings a little safer to explore.

Please enjoy the photos of the abandoned city of Christchurch, New Zealand.

Dr Hank Snaffler Jr.

PS, I have added a  lot of photos on this post – keep in mind, virtually every building you see, in every shot, is abandoned. Even the multi-story hotels and office towers.

Hello again, abandoned building fans. I have arrived in New Zealand – the land of the long white cloud. After a brief stopover in the capital city of Auckland, I have made my way down to the East Coast town of Napier. On day one over here, I got quite a surprise with an abandoned building expedition.

You see, Mr’s Snaffler was born in Napier – which is why we are here. Catching up with family, I asked Mr’s Snaffler’s young nephew a question. “Do you know of any abandoned buildings around here young man?”. He mentioned a few houses he knew of. I said to him “no, I’m looking for some very large abandoned buildings.” He replied “well, the old hospital on the hill is abandoned, it’s been empty for years!“.

I asked Mr’s Snaffler if she knew how to get to the hospital on the hill. As it turns out, she was born in that very hospital! She knew precisely how to get there, so off we went.

Up on a wet and windy day on Bluff Hill in Napier, our discussion about a holiday in Turkey - which will hopefully take place later this year – came to an abrupt end when the Napier Hospital came into view. I couldn’t believe my luck – it was huge.  I got Mr’s Snaffler to drop me at the entrance, and told her I would call when I was done exploring.

Several buildings, some multi-stories in height, and best of all – a large hole in the fence. With apologies to the local authorities, of course I ignored the “video surveillance - trespassers will be prosecuted” signs, and headed into the hospital grounds.

Taking a few photos of the imposing structure, I began to get excited. A few peaks through some windows told me that this was in pristine condition, and that I would be one of the few people to have ventured inside since the hospital was closed, over a decade ago. There was almost no graffiti, or any other signs of previous visitation.

Scouting around the hospital grounds, I searched for an entry point. I should say at this point – I would never break a window or door to gain entry. If there is an open entrance, again, with apologies to the local New Zealand authorities, I will enter – keeping in mind the motto of “take nothing but memories, and leave nothing but my footprints“.

And then – I saw it. An open window. Large, and inviting. I put my camera through first, placing on the floor inside so that I could climb through.  One leg over the window, I got quite the shock.

WOOP! WOOP! WOOP! WOOP! WOOP! Yes, it seems I had activated the motion sensor alarm! As you can see from the external photos, the site was very large. Well, I can tell you, the alarm could be heard over the entire site, and in the surrounding neighborhood!

So close, and yet so far. I waited for security to arrive, partially to explain myself and apologise, and also – I thought I could sweet-talk my way in if somebody with keys and the means to disable the alarm arrived.

After about 15 minutes, the alarm stopped. No security arrived. Unfortunately, this is life in the world of Urbex or abandoned building exploration – you win some, you lose some. The abandoned Napier Hospital would not be explored – this time.

Stay tuned, I will continue to explore New Zealand over the coming weeks, and will be sure to get a little further into my next abandoned building.

Dr Hank Snaffler Jr.

Bangkok is one of the world’s great cities. Amazing food, smiling people, and abandoned skyscrapers. Sure, visiting abandoned buildings may not be on every travellers “to-do” list. For myself, it was irresistible. So, we entered. Unfortunately for my companion, Nurse Jane, there was a pack of mangy looking wild dogs guarding the exits of the elevator. Yes, an elevator, in an abandoned building. Operational. Well, partially operational. There is a well-known saying “only in America”. Here’s a new one: “only in Bangkok”. Only in Bangkok, could you walk into a shopping mall, take the elevator to the sixth floor, exit into a dark abandoned space, avoid the roaming packs of very aggressive wild dogs, climb a few rusty stairs, and find yourself outdoors on a concrete podium. The podium level is ten storeys above ground, and sitting on the podium, are three, thirty level, totally abandoned skyscrapers. Next door, is another abandoned skyscraper, around twenty levels high. That’s just the beginning of what this day had in store…

What began as relatively peaceful protest, ended with over ninety people losing their lives.

Nurse Jane tagged along on this adventure, however, turned back after a quick exploration up to the thirteenth level. The wild dogs really were quite territorial. She later told me on her journey back to ground level, the dogs were guarding the exits, preventing escape. However, Nurse Jane made it out safely, and I carried on, to the very top of the building, alone.

The triplet-skyscrapers remain in various stages of completion. Windows have been installed on one of the towers, and not on others. Cladding is almost complete. An enormous amount of construction materials and equipment remains, rusting away. In general, the upper levels are almost skeletal in nature, and the concrete is crumbling.

From the top, the view offered a bonus opportunity. Firstly, the skyline of Bangkok, including the prestigious Bayoke Tower, Bangkok’s tallest building, which is only a five minute walk away. However, on this day, the most fascinating (and frightening) view, consisted of civil unrest on a grand scale in the city streets below. Ten’s of thousands of political protestors, the “Red Shirts”, had taken over a large proportion of the central Bangkok area, and set up camp. What began as relatively peaceful protest, ended with over ninety people losing their lives. Ironically, I was safer perched on the top of a forty level concrete carcass, than on mean streets below. I dedicate this post to those who lost their lives. Politics aside, it is always incredibly distressing to see civil unrest – fellow citizens taking life from each other. As a side note, within days of these photos being taken, a good proportion of the buildings in view had been set on fire, with major shopping complexes burned to the ground, and tens of millions of dollars in damage occurring. This was quite a surreal experience, I found it hard to comprehend the enormity of what was happening around me.

This urban exploration journey was probably one of the highlights of my many years of Urbex adventures. There are a few things I should point out. First, it is never a good idea to explore alone. Never. Second, I have heard that being in jail in Thailand is no picnic. That, my friends, is the understatement of the year. The “Bang Kwang Central Prison”, known as the “Bangkok Hilton” is one of the worlds most notorious facilities. You *do not* want to end up there, and you *will* be breaking the law should you choose to explore abandoned buildings in Bangkok.

Death, and prison – a pretty heavy ending to the story. Perhaps I can sign off by saying Nurse Jane, and myself, escaped from Bangkok without issue. For my money, Bangkok is an Urbex dream, and I have already booked my flights back. Hopefully, the wild dogs will also be taking a vacation, away from Bangkok.

Thanks, and enjoy the photos.

Dr. Hank Snaffler Jr.

Abandoned Fremantle Power Station, Australia. Construction of the spectacular building commenced in January 1946. By the 1980′s, after just 34 years of service, it was left rotting on the coast of the beautiful Indian Ocean. Much of the Power Station internals were designed and manufactured in England, with skilled contractors sent out from England to assemble the plant on site. These days, the only visitors are intrepid urban explorers, talented graffiti artists, and a few curiously brave locals. The seaside location of this abandoned building has lead to some seriously stunning patina. One of the reasons for choosing this buildings location was the ease with which seawater could be utilised for the cooling system. Now, the saltwater spray contained within the daily Indian Ocean winds are speeding up the incredible rate of beautiful decay.  On this abandoned journey adventure, it was myself, Dr Hank Snaffler Jr, accompanied by my trusty colleague, Nurse Jane. We had to be careful on this one, things could get nasty.

There were various tales of unconfirmed murders at the abandoned Power Station. In the dark labyrinth of tunnels beneath the complex, it was not hard to imagine the heinous crimes that could be easily hidden. Genuinely, brutally, this was a spine-tingling place to be. Indeed, there was a feeling of alarm during various traverses of the underground maze.

Much of the complex is rusting and rotting beyond any salvation, and quite dangerous to explore. The four major chimney stacks have been demolished, leaving a huge gaping holes throughout the complex. This allows rain to get in, which is the worst nightmare for any building trying to remain standing. Combined with the seaside location, and the local winds, the future for the abandoned Power Station is very predictable – mother nature has begun it’s relentless reclamation. The daily winds are so reliable and regular in nature, the locals have actually named the breeze the ”Fremantle Doctor”. As in, “the Doctor is blowing hard today”. We explored the complex extensively, and it became apparent that in some areas, we were probably taking far too great a risk. The rusting metal overhead walk-ways did not seem stable at all.

Rough on the outside, and yet with warm hearts and good-will, the locals from the port-side town of Fremantle warned of the danger of visiting this site. There were various tales of unconfirmed murders at the abandoned Power Station. In the dark labyrinth of tunnels beneath the complex, it was not hard to imagine the heinous crimes that could be easily hidden. Genuinely, brutally, this was a spine-tingling place to be. Indeed, there was a feeling of alarm during various traverses of the underground maze. Reportedly, the tunnels extend for some distance, indeed, out to the ocean.

Surprisingly, this incredibly isolated area of Australia has proved to hold an amazing wealth of abandoned buildings and urban exploration targets. Local “Heritage Protection” laws are a big reason for this, even though it’s a double edged sword. Buildings have been known to be saved from the wrecking ball, solely due to a chimney of “significant architectural heritage”. However, many of these so called “protected” buildings are just left to rot away over the course of decades, and not actually used for any purpose at all.  The only uses for many of these decaying abandoned buildings are now urban exploration, photography, and artistic endeavours. Coming up soon on www.abandonedjourney.com, will be a few more features from this unique and isolated part of the world.

There was a rather embarrassing tale to be told of my adventures at this location. Let’s just say, Nurse Jane may have a great deal more common sense than myself. The tale was only told on the www.abandonedjourney.com mail list. So, thanks subscribers, I’m counting on you to keep my little secret. For everyone else, what are you waiting for? Sign up, now. It’s at the top right of the page.

PS, enjoy the photos. Did you know, all of the photos can be viewed larger if you click on them?

Information : Abandoned Fremantle Power Station Buildings
Located : close to the portside town of Fremantle, in Western Australia.
Legality : G’day mate! You will be trespassing on Australian Government property, and breaking the law, if you enter this location.

Bangkok, Thailand. Just fourteen years ago, the Sathorn Unique skyscraper was being built, destined to become one of the city’s fanciest residential addresses. Now, it is an  abandoned building. Never completed, it remains as yet another “ghost tower” of Bangkok.

A tangle of trees and vines are beginning to take over the lighter parts of this monolith, such as the four storey archways and romanesque feature columns. Amazingly, this building is located in the central area of one of the worlds largest cities. These towers were built during the mid nineties, when the Thai economy was booming. In 1997, the Asian Financial Crisis changed all that.

Developers stricken with debt were unable to finish many projects. In the case of Sathorn Unique, the main concrete structure made it all the way to the top. The apartment fit-outs had begun in earnest, with wooden floor boards installed and polished. Connected bathtubs, wardrobes, and electrics show just how close this one was to completion.

At ground floor, two escalators have been installed, climbing to nowhere in particular, the remnants of protective plastic still clinging onto their stainless steel sides.  With an amazing location close to the Chao Praya river that snakes it’s way through the center of Bangkok, it’s easy to see how this abandoned building would have been luxury living at it’s finest.

After a tip off from some of the locals, a small climb got me into the lobby area. Inside, a man had set up a shrine, and was providing offerings to his God. Children who were playing around the outer area of the building had clearly been warned of the dangers inside.

Although they were smiling, they were clearly fearful of the building, perhaps due to the ghost stories and other tales of fear their elders had instilled in them. For good reason too – this is a particularly dangerous site, with plenty of opportunities to take a 40+ level fall through one of the many unsealed shafts that exist, often in total darkness. Throw in a pack of wild dogs, some quite unusual smells and sounds, I quickly realised this abandoned building was not to be taken lightly.

From the brochure: (conveniently,  there was various sales materials still floating around the building):

Sathorn Unique Tower is our first residential project in downtown Bangkok. The tower is 49 storey with the total of 659 residential units and 54 retails, located only less than 200 meters from BTS : Taksin station. Sathorn Unique Tower is also located at the edge of old commercial town of Charernkrung meets the new international business zone of Silom-Sathorn roads. It sits on the a horse-shoe blend which is considered as the best place for overlook at the Bangkok’s grand cityscape and the charm of the Chaopraya river.

Bangkok probably has more abandoned buildings and modern day ruins than any other major city on earth. In the 14 years since the Asian Financial Crisis, the Thai economy has recovered, and many new gleaming skyscrapers have been built. Still, there remains a number of the abandoned ghost towers like Sathorn Unique. Earlier this same day, I scaled another forty storey building, an abandoned complex of three near-identical towers, with another abandoned building next door for good measure! Story and photos, coming soon.

I wouldn’t recommend visting the inside of this abandoned tower.  Truly, it is an incredibly dark and dangerous site. There are many holes for you to fall down a very, very, long way. Not to mention, the locals insist it is haunted (they were really quite insistent!). Of course, trespassing is illegal. However, it is an incredibly easy building to get to, and take a look around.

Information for “Sathorn” Unique Abandoned Skyscraper, Bangkok:

Getting there : Take the train to BTS Saphan Tak. The tower is located close to the cross road between Sathon Tai and Charoen Krung. Look up, you won’t miss it. Check the google map on this page…the pin is right on top of this abandoned skyscraper building.

Abandoned stadium? Well, the locals down under called it an “Entertainment Centre”. I call it an abandoned building the likes of which I have never seen. With a capacity of over 8,000 people, and an entry in the Guiness Book of World Records, this is urban exploration not to be missed. For over a decade, the Perth Entertainment Centre has remained empty, awaiting its fate with the wrecking ball. On this stage, once stood Bob Marley, Bono, Whitney Houston, Bon Jovi, The Beach Boys, AC/DC, Queen, and Sting. Not to mention, the Harlem Globetrotters, or Tony Alva. We are the world? We are the people? Today, Dr Hank Snaffler Jr and one of his esteemed colleagues, R.F. Digga III (“ratty” – for his ability to get into any abandoned building), took the opportunity for a little urbex. We’re making the world a better place, for you and me.

In 1974, the indoor stadium opened its doors, in Perth, the capital city of Western Australia. Known for its isolation, Perth can indeed lay claim to being “the most isolated city on earth”. With a population rapidly approaching 2 million people, it is remarkable to think that the closest city is about a 48 HOUR drive away, across the dusty Australian dessert. For almost three decades, the stadium was host to one of the most remarkable line-up’s of international musicians and performers. Genuinely, the biggest and the best, they have all appeared here. Perth Entertainment Centre is even listed in the Guiness Book of World Records, as the largest purpose built regular theatre (containing a proscenium arch), in the world. Now it remains another abandoned building, having been very well locked and secured for such a long time, it is almost like the clock simply stopped inside.

Our abandoned journey took us through all parts of the abandoned stadium. From backstage, to the lofty heights of the lighting rigs above, to the maze of platforms installed for the scurrying of technicians around all parts of the complex. From the top of the roof, to the VIP areas below where stars once prepared for their entrance on stage above. Given R.F. Digga’s mild aversion to heights, and my own scepticism about walking over a rusty suspended stair case in complete darkness, this was a challenging day for the both of us. In the end, I think the photo’s did the building proud. A moment captured in time, presented here for the fine readers of abandonedjourney.com

Getting there:

So, you’ve made it to Perth, Western Australia. Most isolated city on earth. Make your way to the “Wellington Street Bus Station” in the centre of the city. Look West. You can’t miss it

About R.F. Digga III : Mr Digga has been one of my urban exploration colleagues for some time. His ability to find a way in to any abandoned building, is most rat-like. Hence, “ratty”. Or, “ratty fresh” to his younger acquaintances. A retired SAS member, I cannot reveal his true name, nor rank. Most governments will deny that he actually exists, or is still alive. There will be many more abandoned journeys with Mr Digga, so please, sign up on the mail list, and feel free to send a message using the comments below.

Enjoy the photos.

Signed,

Dr. Hank Snaffler Jr.