What is the Purpose of this Structure?

September 10, 2009 7:16 PM

Does anyone have any idea what this structure is, or what its purpose might be? More pics and information past the break.

My fiancee and I have driven past this this thing on our way into work for the last couple of years and we've often wondered what this structure's purpose in life is. I'm hoping Metafilter might finally be able to provide us with an answer.

Some info I can give you is that this structure, which looks sort of like the words most painful waterslide, is situated in the suburb of Oxley in Queensland, Australia. It's located next to a Harvey Norman store (a white goods and furniture store) but as this view on Google Maps shows, the store is only new whereas this structure has been there far longer than that, so I'm certain it has nothing to do with the store. A couple of salespeople I asked at the store had no idea what it was either and wanted to know what it was themselves! And if that wasn't enough evidence, these pictures show that it's fenced off from the store on a whole other property, which I think must be a farm because this picture shows some cows standing near the structure. That last picture also shows some rubble which may or may not be related to the structure's purpose.

Our theories are that it could be some kind of artistic structure, but it's in a semi-industrial area so that seems unlikely. It might have something to do with aviation (there's a small airport nearby) but if so, I don't know how it relates.

Here's one last picture and a street view for your further consideration. Any idea what this thing might be? Or what its purpose might be? Please help put our enquiring minds at ease!

posted by Effigy2000 to grab bag (11 comments total)

I was going to guess waterslide before I read your [more inside].
posted by Frank Grimes at 7:19 PM on September 10

It's a waterslide without the actual slide part installed in it. The U-shaped things are what holds the fiberglass slide. And the thing at the top of the central scaffold is for a roof/shade and probably a billboard, as well.
posted by The World Famous at 7:20 PM on September 10

former waterslide.
posted by jessamyn at 7:21 PM on September 10

"The place was called Mirage Grand Prix Oxley
They had a 1100m track that had some of the fastest hire cars in Australia race on them.
They also had a smaller track t hat had smaller cars and a steelrail track that the cars drove around.
they also had a 18 hole mini golf course, a bumper boat pool and the waterslide." .
posted by zamboni at 7:28 PM on September 10 [1 favorite]

sounds like it was a fun place
posted by patnok at 7:30 PM on September 10

Well there you go. Looks like our joke that it looked like the worlds most painful waterslide wasn't too far off the mark! That answers that! Thanks everyone!
posted by Effigy2000 at 7:31 PM on September 10

There used to be a waterpark / fun park at Oxley, I remember going there with my cousins a very small kid.

ABC Brisbane Blog confirms my hazy memories!
posted by girlgenius at 7:32 PM on September 10

Used to be called Amazons (I think) and about 6 kids drowned there over 6 years (IIRC). I went there too.
posted by b33j at 7:41 PM on September 10

Uh, I'm totally wrong.
posted by b33j at 7:43 PM on September 10

Yeah I went to Mirage Grand Prix Oxley but never went on the waterslide because a friend's friend told another friend that a friend of hers got all cut up by razorblades embedded in the plastic!!!! I often wonder why they've kept the frame up after all this time. I miss the mini golf the most.
posted by h00py at 4:39 AM on September 11

If you zoom out slightly in the Google Maps view you can plainly make out the driving track off the right rear corner of the store.
posted by dinger at 12:17 PM on September 11