The mere glimpse of a vintage playground can transport us back to the carefree days of our youth, where scraped knees were a badge of honour and the only thing hotter than the summer sun was the slide we dared to descend. For many Aussies, a recently surfaced photo of the Monash Adventure Playground, an entirely metal wonderland that was a childhood staple in the 1970s and 80s, has done just that—igniting a flood of nostalgia and a discussion on how times have changed.

The Monash Adventure Playground wasn't just any playground; it was a destination. With its towering slides and exhilarating flying foxes, it drew between 200,000 and 300,000 visitors annually from all corners of Australia. Nestled near the South Australian and Victorian border, this five-acre marvel was the epitome of the 'good 'ol days,' as many locals reminisced online after the vintage picture went viral.

The playground's design was a far cry from today's cushioned and carefully engineered play spaces. Some Aussies joked about their amazement at surviving the towering slides, while others pointed out that such unforgiving structures 'wouldn't be allowed these days.' The nostalgia is tinged with a hint of pride for the resilience and daring of a generation raised on these metal giants.

An old photo of the metal Monash Adventure Playground from the 1970s and 80s was shared widely, stirring nostalgia among Australians. Credit: Monash Playground Grand Park / Facebook

Labor MP Louise Miller-Frost shared her own fond memories with Yahoo News Australia, painting a vivid picture of family road trips in a Ford Falcon, complete with vinyl seats and no air conditioning—a true 1970s experience. Upon arrival, children like herself would be launched into the air by the 'giant slippery dips with humps,' and if you were fortunate, you'd have a hessian sack or cardboard box to prevent the searing metal from scorching your skin.

The playground's spinning tops required a communal effort to get them whirling, and once they did, it was a test of grip strength to avoid being flung across the floor. The metal bars that made up the structure were unforgiving, often leaving behind a collection of bruises and the occasional broken bone. The absence of soft-fall surfaces meant every tumble was met with the unyielding reality of the ground below.

Miller-Frost highlighted the human-powered nature of the rides, which required significant effort to operate. This intergenerational play, where adults and children could enjoy the equipment together, added an element of unpredictability as the added weight of adults could send smaller children spinning.

The mastermind behind this iconic slice of Aussie history was Grant Telfer, a local businessman with a knack for invention. Starting with a single slide in the 60s, Telfer expanded the playground to include 180 of his metal creations. His daughter, Alison Halupka, recounted to the ABC how her father's mind was always brimming with ideas despite his lack of formal engineering training.

Sadly, the original Monash Adventure Playground closed in the early 1990s due to insurance issues. However, it was later reborn as the Monash Adventure Park, which now features modern equipment and grassy areas. While the new park continues to delight children, it's a far cry from the thrilling, if somewhat perilous, playground of the past.

As we reflect on the playgrounds of yesteryear, it's clear that an increased focus on safety has tempered the spirit of adventure and the willingness to take risks. While we understand the need to protect our little ones, there's a part of us that can't help but feel nostalgic for the days when playgrounds were a wild frontier and every visit was an adventure in itself.

Key Takeaways

• An old photo of the metal Monash Adventure Playground from the 1970s and 80s went viral, stirring nostalgia among Australians.
• The playground was a major attraction, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors and featuring metal equipment that would be considered unsafe by today's standards.
• Labor MP Louise Miller-Frost reminisced about the playground, discussing the intense heat and the risk of injury from the then-popular equipment.
• The playground was originally created by Grant Telfer, started with a single slide in the 60s and expanded with his metal creations before it closed in the early 1990s and later reopened as the Monash Adventure Park with modern, safer equipment.

Do you have memories of the Monash Adventure Playground or another thrilling play space from your childhood? Share your stories with us, and let's take a walk down memory lane together. And remember, while the playgrounds may have changed, the joy of play remains timeless.

 

[Wandiwa]

Any Occupational Health & Safety officer would have kittens just looking at that.

 

[MariaG]

I did not grow up near a playground like that.
We did, however, spend a lot of time at the local park where they had an old fashioned playground.
4 swings with the big old chains, 2 slippery dips (made of stainless steel)...that burned your bottom if you didn't have long pants on, 2 wooden see-saws, and a thing you stood in - held on - then someone spun it around and around until you were near to going green.
It was a great playground that us 4 kids walked 2 blocks to get to every weekend.
Council listened to the voices that howled about it being dangerous. I might add, none of us, or anyone we knew was ever harmed. The entire playground was demolished. So, what is there now you might ask.
It now has 2 swings.....the end.
Sad to see, especially given all the hours of fun we had over the years.

 

[Littleboy8]

I did not grow up near a playground like that.
We did, however, spend a lot of time at the local park where they had an old fashioned playground.
4 swings with the big old chains, 2 slippery dips (made of stainless steel)...that burned your bottom if you didn't have long pants on, 2 wooden see-saws, and a thing you stood in - held on - then someone spun it around and around until you were near to going green.
It was a great playground that us 4 kids walked 2 blocks to get to every weekend.
Council listened to the voices that howled about it being dangerous. I might add, none of us, or anyone we knew was ever harmed. The entire playground was demolished. So, what is there now you might ask.
It now has 2 swings.....the end.
Sad to see, especially given all the hours of fun we had over the years.

I went to the opening of our new park at black rock it’s pirate themed and it’s awesome

 

[joybells sausage]

I had described the Monash Playground I often visited (as an adult) in the 80s to my children, and we went there in the 90s. The new park was lovely but very "tame". There was only one of the original pieces of equipment left as a reminder. How sad I was not to be able to share, what had been for me, and many others, a fabulous experience. How sad too, to see Grant Telfer's monumental gift to his small community, all gone!

 

[outbacksant]

The original Monash Playground was amazing!! I went there as a teenager, often with friends who knew someone who drove and had a car, in the mid to late '70's. It was about a 3 or 4 hour drive from Adelaide, all windows down and music very loud, in very hot South Australian summers!! We didn't care, but we sure had so much fun!!! As long as we weren't stupid, we didn't get hurt.....just slight burns from the slippery dip!!! Oh the wonderful memories.

 

[outbacksant]

I had described the Monash Playground I often visited (as an adult) in the 80s to my children, and we went there in the 90s. The new park was lovely but very "tame". There was only one of the original pieces of equipment left as a reminder. How sad I was not to be able to share, what had been for me, and many others, a fabulous experience. How sad too, to see Grant Telfer's monumental gift to his small community, all gone!

I agree joybell, not the same anymore. There was also a place at Murray Bridge that was a lot of fun also. If I recall correctly it was made from recycled things, but it's name escapes me!