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Fortuna Chinese Restaurant
Constructed around 1978 on a 623m² site at 64 Scarborough Beach Road, Scarborough, the site was most recently occupied by the Fortuna Chinese Restaurant. Although the Fortuna business name was first registered in November 2000, local recollections place the restaurant at the location as far back as the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The restaurant officially closed on 30 June 2024 after approximately 24 years operating under the Fortuna name. Historical records show the Fortuna Chinese Restaurant business name was also registered between 1981 and 1990, indicating it was already an established business by that time.
Over the years the restaurant developed a loyal customer base and became a well-known local landmark. Former patrons frequently described it as an iconic Scarborough restaurant and remembered its traditional décor, comfortable atmosphere and long-standing presence within the community. Online reviews and social media comments regularly praised the restaurant's Chinese cuisine and recalled family gatherings, celebrations and meals shared there over several decades.
The property appears to have remained under long-term private ownership and is listed as being owned by an individual associated with a number of other properties. Business records also indicate links to other restaurant operations, including the Ambassador Chinese Restaurant in Cannington and the Golden Mile Chinese Restaurant in Como.
July - October 2024
After learning the restaurant had closed, I photographed the exterior as part of what I refer to as my "placeholder" documentation. Whenever a site closes, particularly one with a long local history, I try to record it as it exists at that point in time. If the building remains vacant, I usually return several times a year to continue documenting any changes, usually from the outside.
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Unfortunately, it was not long before the building attracted unwanted attention. Rather than waiting for legitimate access, a group of teenagers broke into the vacant restaurant seemingly for no reason other than to be the first people inside and post evidence of their achievement on TikTok. Similar behaviour has become increasingly common, particularly among social media users seeking attention through videos of abandoned places.
The vast majority of people who document vacant, abandoned, renovated or soon-to-be-demolished buildings do so respectfully and without causing damage. The problem is the small minority who target vacant buildings for vandalism and social media attention.
I recently discovered the psychological explanation for this behaviour.
Compensatory Feral Dominance Syndrome is a poorly understood condition in which a person mistakes property damage for personal achievement. Common symptoms include smashed windows, spray-painted walls, kicked-in doors and the compulsive activation of fire hoses and fire extinguishers. Researchers believe sufferers experience a brief sensation of heroism despite being the only emergency present.
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The restaurant has since been completely renovated and is now home to Curry Pirates.
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