Urban explorers, often called urbex, range across all demographics from all walks of life.  From young to old, male or female, Urbex is attracted by the lure of decay. 

A constant search

I always have one eye peeled for abandoned, dilapidated, decrepit structures when travelling to family events, holidays, or other appointments.  From schools, orphanages, asylums, hospitals, factories and railway stations to tram yards, amusement parks or old houses, If I find one, I mark it down for future investigation.

Risks and Legalities

Can it be dangerous?  Most certainly.  However, is it illegal to enter a property?  That depends.  If it’s completely abandoned, if there are no Keep Out signs, if it’s not fenced off or marked as private property, if you aren’t armed with bolt cutters or don’t need to break in to enter, you will prob get a polite move along if approached.  However, entering an active, working building is an entirely different kettle of fish and strongly discouraged.  The term ‘infiltration’ is applied to these ventures and carries the genuine risk of civil prosecution.

“If it’s a long-abandoned house, and they’re able to enter without doing any damage, there’s no sign forbidding people from entering the property, and they have no intention of committing any crime while on the premises — they’re simply photographing or noting what they see — it may be that no offence is committed.”

ABC News

Abandoned Beauty

Completely abandoned buildings are the most common lure to an urbex.  Sadly, it doesn’t take long for them to become graffiti or vandalism targets once abandoned.  By far, the most significant majority of abandoned structures fall into this category.  Some, those with greater security, fare a little better. Finding an abandoned but undamaged building is akin to finding the holy grail. Abandoned sites are popular with photographers, historians, and ghost hunters as there is a sad but infinite beauty in the decay.  As you walk the empty spaces, you can feel the history—the hopes, fears and pain of those who lived or worked there before.  The silent walls that once enveloped the sounds of children, families, machinery humming or nurses tending sick have stories to tell. If only those walls could talk.

Storm Drains

Another common form of urban exploration is storm drains.  Entry into these is referred to as “draining”.   Groups, such as Cave Clan in Australia have sprung up dedicated to this.  However, exploring storm drains carries vastly different risks than above-ground structures as they can be subject to flash flooding and toxic air. In addition, there is a specific set of rules around draining – such as “when it rains, no drains”!  This is because of the dangers associated with becoming trapped or drowned during periods of rain when the sewers flood.

Safety First

Above-ground abandoned buildings are often unstable.  Entry always carries risk. There could be asbestos, dodgy flooring or dangerous roofs.  Live wires are a less common risk, but stray voltage is still possible.  There is always broken glass, often holes in walls and floors.  Sometimes rats or hostile squatters.  Motion detectors or guard dogs guard some locations.  The rule to live by is never going alone. Be alert and cautious where you step.

Locations and Secrecy

A common creed among urban explorers is never to disclose a location.  This is partly to protect the site, and partly if it becomes viral more security will be employed.   Images of abandoned places that are common knowledge or abandoned locations that have become tourist attractions will usually have a location.  But a new site, one just found or in prime condition, will rarely have a location listed. 

Leave No Footprints

While urban exploration doesn’t have rules as such, common-sense guidelines to follow are:

1. Never break into a site.  Forcible entry could land you in serious trouble.  There is usually a broken window, a missing door, sometimes even an entire wall down that allows access without you causing further damage.
2. Do not vandalise.  Urban exploration is to explore and document.  Not spray paint, break windows, smash doors and make it worse for the next explorer.
3. Don’t steal or take souvenirs.  Again – serious criminal trouble.  
4. Don’t share information about the location.  So many buildings are now gone as arsonists found the sites.  Loftus Tramsheds, Sydney, St. Johns Boys Home, Goulburn are victims of this.  Sharing a location opens it up to vandals, junkies, thieves and arsonists.  Only share with fellow Urbex and close friends you can trust to keep the site private.
5. Never explore alone.  You need to have at least one other person with you.  Then, if one of you gets seriously hurt, they can go for help. 
6. Accept some sites are impossible to enter.  For example, I would have loved to explore Box Hill Brickworks.  But, unfortunately, it’s been pulled down now, so that chance has gone.  But because physical safety was off the charts, it also had high security.
7. More common sense, but if you are spotted, don’t run.  You will, in all likelihood, only get asked to leave if you are only exploring or taking images.  But running in an abandoned building is never a good idea.  Safety above all

Document and Photograph!

Once abandoned, there is only a narrow window to photograph before the vandalism destroys the building.  As the buildings deteriorate further, they either get demolished or security increases.  So take lots of photos and share them on social media – without the location.  Let others see places they won’t get to. If you are unlucky enough to be caught, taking photos also helps you avoid prosecution – you can show you were only taking images and not causing damage. 

Detroit

For the lure of decay, Detroit is king. The city of Detroit has around ten abandoned neighbourhoods.  I drool over images from Detroit as it has around 70,000 abandoned buildings plus  31,000 abandoned homes.  It’s an urbex paradise. The city of Detroit actually declared bankruptcy with an $18 billion debt in the fallout of the global financial crisis. An excellent documentary on Detroit’s buildings can be seen below.