Cultural centre labelled 'makeshift mosque' by Adelaide residents

Anger has erupted in the northern suburbs of Adelaide over claims a "makeshift mosque" has opened illegally.

The local council is investigating, but the owner insists he is building a cultural centre, not a place of worship.

Out the front of a Salisbury South business, more than a dozen cars line the street.

Down the driveway and through the gate, noise can be heard coming from the back of the property.

There are people gathered outside, many of them children.

Behind a curtain, the answer that curious locals have been looking for.

"I don't like it to be honest," Bradley Tsoumbris, from Concerned Citizens of SA, said.

"The room was creepy. I know it's a prayer room and obviously there are things about other cultures we are not aware of."

The Pentland Road property was recently sold by a home building company.

"You hear a lot of chanting going on," local business owner Rick Langley said.

"We came out here one evening about a week ago, about 11.30 at night, and all you could hear was chanting."

Salisbury Council says the building is currently approved for use as an office or warehouse.

It's trying to contact the owner as it investigates any potential breaches of its zoning regulations.

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"It looks like a makeshift mosque, I guess," Mr Tsoumbris said.

In a statement the owner said he had no intention of establishing a mosque, but rather a cultural centre, insisting: "what you see in the video is volunteers gathering for rehearsals."

Despite some local concerns, nearby worker Ernie Keseg said he couldn't see what the fuss was about.

"Nothing to see, they're praying in there and that's it," he said.

"I mean, what's so scary about it?"