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The St Clair Recreation Centre opened in 1962. It was South Australia’s first major youth centre and indoor sports stadium. Originally the headquarters of the South Australia Youth Club, the centre soon ‘settled in to regular provision for youth sports and activities such as basketball, squash, skating, judo and dancing’.

During the 1960s the Centre hosted a Saturday Night Dance. It was the largest dance in Adelaide and regularly drew crowds of more than 1000 people. New Year’s Eve would attract 2,500 revellers. Radio station 5DN broadcast an hour of live music from the dance each week.

The centre was the preferred Adelaide performance venue for visiting interstate artists, including the Bee Gees, the Deltones, Johnny Farnham, Little Patty, Judy Stone, Rick May, and Masters Apprentices.

The Centre was also famous for its roller skating and Blue Light Discos. In more recent years, the Centre positioned itself as key recreational and sporting facility in western Adelaide.

While the Centre will be revitalised into a larger stadium as part of the creation of the St Clair Recreational Precinct, the original building will continue to live on in the hearts and memories of the many people who have played, danced, skated, celebrated and commiserated on its wooden floors over the last 55 years.

Share your stories and memories of the St Clair Recreation Centre here.

Our photographic history of the Centre is limited - we would love to hear from you if you have photos that you are willing to share with us: llacey@charlessturt.sa.gov.au