Sitefinding with the Interwebz

Nick · 17 Jul 2013, 7:22 pm

So I thought I'd start a thread chronicling some of the novel ways to find sites to explore.

For example, I've got accounts on Gov Tender Websites (Search UNSPSC: 72000000 - Building and Construction and Maintenance Services) that allow me to search for demolition tenders, I also subscribe to the newsletters of demolition companies and auction houses are also great when they do on-site auctions.

When I'm traveling I use a mix of things, mostly Google Search hacking to find what I want.

So what interesting tips & tricks do you find to find sites?

Nuggs · 17 Jul 2013, 10:37 pm

Dial Before You Dig.

Nick · 18 Jul 2013, 6:06 am

Which options do you use? I've filled it in in the past but never actually put my real details due to paranoia, but also, that means I'm not able to get results back.

Can you do it all online without a phone call involved? As in they just email you maps of teh drainz?

Nuggs · 18 Jul 2013, 6:24 am

Yep, do it all on the net and receive emails.

Heratige registers are also handy.

blakjak · 18 Jul 2013, 7:12 am

PICMAN (NSW library Picture/Manuscript database)
Search things like "drain", "tunnel", "bunker", "channel", "tank stream", etc, & suburb names.

Also...
SIX Viewer (Google it).
Hint: 1943 map overlay.

I'm sure you'll find it

Happy hunting.

BJ

Barnz · 18 Jul 2013, 9:42 am

Council flood report, gives outfall locations.

P&d online 1946 aerial pics are handy for cross referance.

Scarecrow · 18 Jul 2013, 6:40 pm

http://home.dictionaryofsydney.org/ has a lot of interesting articles.

blakjak · 20 Jul 2013, 6:55 am

Oh, I almost forgot (the online version of) Subterranean Sydney. This book sparked the urbex flame in many of us, including myself.
I first came across a copy at Gould's second-hand bookstore in Newtown, the rest is history.

Enjoy.

BJ

Nick · 21 Jul 2013, 5:53 am

blakjak wrote: Enjoy.

BJ

Why yes, I do enjoy them.

One thing I've been using rather ruthelssly while on my wanderings has been Panoramio,

You learn to work it, using search terms in the language of the country you're in and it can give some good results.

http://www.panoramio.com/map/?tag=aband ... b=3&pl=all - Example, found me an abandoned nuclear storage bunker thing we spent the afternoon paint balling in.

Protip, just turn off your torch and wait for your opponents torchlight to bob around in front of you then shoot

Urbane · 22 Jul 2013, 4:13 pm

I've found searching through old newspaper articles from the 1800's or so can be useful. The usually mention the building of a new drain along with location. From there it's just cross referencing that location with what it would look like these days.

dodger · 01 Aug 2013, 8:50 am

I was watching 7:30 report last night (of all other things I could have been doing) and there was a report on Camden High School and the hundreds who have apparently gotten sick from attending it because part of the school was built on top of an abandoned gasworks. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-31/c ... ey/4856904

This is probably not the natural response to watching a report like this but it has made me want to go check it out. Does anybody know if the old school building still exists? (The school has since moved to a new site.)

f1ex · 07 Aug 2013, 9:40 pm

d0dg3r wrote:I was watching 7:30 report last night (of all other things I could have been doing) and there was a report on Camden High School and the hundreds who have apparently gotten sick from attending it because part of the school was built on top of an abandoned gasworks. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-31/c ... ey/4856904

This is probably not the natural response to watching a report like this but it has made me want to go check it out. Does anybody know if the old school building still exists? (The school has since moved to a new site.)

It still exists, I live very close. Message me when you want to check it out.

No+Pro · 27 Aug 2013, 12:43 pm

its not really finding new sites but i like to keep an eye on a few local bloggers, pics are good too, except most of them have been pretty quiet lately - run out of local places to explore maybe??

Nick · 28 Aug 2013, 12:04 am

No+Pro wrote:its not really finding new sites but i like to keep an eye on a few local bloggers, pics are good too, except most of them have been pretty quiet lately - run out of local places to explore maybe??

I always feel a little dirty when I find a site on a blog or something, I'm using publicly posted locations, validating there existence, despite the fact I know I should be condemning them