Scandals

Who remembers Scandals Nightclub? Do you remember the soggy alcohol-soaked carpet and how it squelched when you walked on it? Many of you who grew up in the 1980s in Campbelltown probably do. It was the one place in town that you could enjoy an upmarket meal, go to see live entertainment or dance the night away until the wee small hours. The venue had a short but memorable history.

Scandals occupied the old club house for the gold course that is now Park Central. The golf course closed down in 1978 and the club house lay vacant and vandalised for about two years. It had been leased to a number of owners but suffered from the hooligan element in town. When the new club house was built in Glen Alpine, this old club house kept its restaurant licence.

The club house is visible in the background of this photo of the old golf course. The image was taken in 1965-1975 by Geoff Eaves.

An occupant of the club house was Luke's Disco with the accompanying restaurant. Luke's opened in the late 1970s. Some locals remember climbing up the poles in the disco until the owners started putting grease on them to prevent this. 

At the end of 1981 the club was renovated by Scandals International Restaurants, costing $250,000 and taking eight months to complete. The club opened in September 1982 with a charity opening and funds going to Campbelltown and Ingleburn Lions clubs. The Who's Who of Campbelltown attended, enjoying dinner, drinks and an international fashion parade. A showband named Zippitty Do Dah also performed. The place was a hit with locals, with its flash seafood restaurant, function rooms, bars and cabaret room. The new car park called hold up to 320 cars. The city now had a nightlife!

In early 1984 the club changed its name to Rio's. This name change was brief, and it reverted back to Scandals by the middle of the same year and now had a licence to operate until 3am.

By 1987, after a few black marks to its name, the club was now owned by Fred and Michael Dudak. The Dudak's retained the supper club menu until 2.30am which meant guests didn't need to leave and come back again to dance.

The club attracted many famous acts over the years. These included: Pseudo Echo, Duran Duran and La Bouche. There are also fond memories of Jamie Drury taking his clothes off!

The building closed down around 1989 and it was destroyed by fire soon after. The owners attempted to retrieve the wine from the cellar but to no avail. It was the end of an era.

Do you have memories of Scandals? We would also welcome photographs.

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

Campbelltown Ingleburn News 11 May 1982, p4 and 13 September 1982

Dodging a Bullet

There had been nothing unusual about this particular Saturday afternoon in the late summer of 1952. Gatekeeper James Ashford was on duty at the Camden Road level crossing at Campbelltown where he performed his regular duties. Golfers enjoyed a leisurely round of golf at the adjacent course and the rest of the town were making the most of the perfect weather. Then all hell broke loose...

Crouched on a hill about 300 yards away was a 15 year old boy who started firing shots at James Ashford. The bullets struck the gatekeeper's shelter box, where he was summoning police. One of the bullets narrowly missed his head. He later took shelter behind a gatepost, and two more bullets ploughed into the post.

Bullets also whined over golfers on the golf course. One player dived into the creek for safety and another into a pond. Several shots also flew over a passing car. Local police then blocked Camden Road.

Two men then found the boy under a nearby bridge. Drawing their pistols, the policeman rushed the bridge and captured the boy. They took possession of a pea-rifle. He was charged with assault, discharging a firearm near a public street, and being a person under the age of 16 found in possession of a firearm.

Local newspaper photographer Norm Campbell remembered the day. "This was great news for the papers, it was Saturday morning and Sunday was a big day for news. The place was riddled with reporters and staff."

It turned out that the boy was from the Sydney suburb of Enfield. He was ordered by the court to attend the Police Boy's Club at Burwood two nights a week. The court was told by the police that when captured the boy's breath smelt of intoxicating liquor and he was unsteady on his feet. He also received a bond which prohibited picture shows, intoxicating drink and the handling of firearms for two years. The boy told the court that he was "very sorry" for what he had done.

This is a photograph taken in the early 1950s. It shows what the scene would've looked like at the time of the shooting. The photograph overlooks the golf course with the Great Southern Railway line and the Camden Road level crossing at the bottom left. (Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society)

Bridge over Bow Bowing Creek next to the level crossing. This was almost certainly the bridge where the 15 year old hid under and was caught. (Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society).

Written by Andrew Allen