Adelaide Reinvented

ADELAIDE REINVENTED For a long time Adelaide was known as a big country town. Not anymore. Reinvigorated thanks to innovative developments big and small, a growing residential population, activated areas and a buzzing gastronomic and small bar scene, Adelaide has a pulse that ignites the city’s residents, workers and visitors young and old.

With Adelaide Reinvented, we have gathered a group of passionate Adelaideans, well-known in their respective fields, to write about the new Adelaide, a city of innovation and distinctive culture that is showing a glimpse of its potential. We focus on the infrastructure, the spaces and places, the renaissance of the city as a place to live, how we look at heritage, the future, as well as what’s happening in the world of food and wine. Of course this isn’t the whole story of new Adelaide but a snapshot of the transformation that is underway in our city.

Writers include Committee for Adelaide General Manager Matt Clemow, the Planning Institute of Australia’s CEO Kirsty Kelly, Andrew Wallace of the University of South Australia, Taylor Cullity Lethlean’s Damian Schultz and Grieve Gillett Dimitty Andersen Architects’ Elizabeth Little.

Welcome to the new Adelaide.

David Knight, Editor Photo: Botanic Bar

CREDITS Editor David Knight

:

Design Director Sabas Renteria

:

National Sales and Marketing Manager Tamrah Petruzzelli

Contributors Andrew Wallace, Elizabeth Little, Kirsty Kelly, Damian Schultz, Matt Clemow

:

:

Photographer Phillip Handforth

CONTENTS

FOOD & WINE

BUILDINGS & INFRASTRUCTURE

CITY LIVING

HERITAGE RETHOUGHT

SPACES & PLACES

FUTURE POSSIBILITIES

CONCLUSION

ADELAIDE REINVENTED IS A COLLABORATION WITH RENEWAL SA IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE CAPITAL CITY COMMITTEE

ADELAIDE REINVENTED : 2015/2016 : FOOD & WINE

A FOOD AND WINE DESTINATION WORDS BY DAVID KNIGHT

OD

& WINE

WITH ITS COLLECTION OF SMALL BARS AND

O

F

OD & WINE F O

EXCITING RESTAURANTS, ADELAIDE HAS EMERGED AS A GASTRONOMIC DESTINATION

O

1

D

&

WINE FO

FOOD & WINE

DAVID KNIGHT IS EDITOR OF

THE ADELAIDE

Photos: 1. Africola. 2. Exchange Specialty Coffee.

REVIEW

Right now, Adelaide has myriad

FOR EXCITING, QUALITY FOOD

exhilarating place to eat and drink. The

on Waymouth, as well as other new

places to wine and dine. It is a hotbed

AND DRINKS ON EAST TERRACE

city’s bars and restaurants are bold,

places such as Bistro Dom and Melt

of exciting eateries, from food trucks

AND NORTH TERRACE. IT IS ONE

enticing and push the boundaries.

to create a dining hub, which now

to cafés and from casual restaurants

OF MANY FOOD AND WINE POCKETS

These are exiting times, as ambitious

includes Press’s sister bar Proof.

to fine-dining establishments.

ACROSS

WHICH

chefs cook from their hearts in

Press and Bistro Dom are nationally

Whatever your taste in food or drink,

INCLUDE WAYMOUTH STREET, THE

restaurants they own or love while

acclaimed while George’s was just

Adelaide’s CBD has you covered.

EAST END OF RUNDLE STREET,

bar owners look to introduce elusive

named best European restaurant at

EBENEZER

and exotic drinks and experiences to

the 2015 National Restaurant and

their patrons.

Catering Awards.

THE

CITY,

PLACE/VARDON

In 2014, just before he launched

AVENUE, THE PEEL STREET AND

his restaurant Africola, Duncan

LEIGH STREET PRECINCT, AS

Welgemoed told The Adelaide

WELL AS THAT OLD FAVOURITE

Though Adelaide’s food resurgence

Review that the city would become

GOUGER STREET. THESE POCKETS

is now in full swing, things looked a

a food destination in a few years.

MEAN ADELAIDE’S GASTRONOMIC

little grim a few years ago. A block on

With Africola, the former Bistro Dom

SCENE IS HEALTHIER THAN EVER.

Waymouth Street changed all that.

Head Chef is part of the local food

Press and its chef Andrew Davies

resurgence, as he embraces the

Would Africola have been possible five

emerged with high quality casual dining

food memories of his South African

years ago? Probably not. In the last

and brilliant nose-to-tail options. Press

childhood to create the city’s most

five years Adelaide has emerged as an

joined the lunchtime favourite George’s

exciting dining space with an eclectic, colourful design by co-owner James Brown (Mash Design).

Though the dishes are high quality, Africola isn’t fine dining. It’s exuberant dining. It is also unique, not only to Adelaide but to Australia and possibly the world.

Africola isn’t the only Adelaide restaurant that shines with a cuisine and experience that can’t be found elsewhere. Jock Zonfrillo’s Orana, which celebrates Australia’s native ingredients in a fine-dining space, is the city’s most prestigious restaurant.

ALONG

WITH

ITS

SISTER

ESTABLISHMENTS BOTANIC BAR AND GOLDEN BOY, AFRICOLA FORMS A DESTINATION CORNER

2

ADELAIDE REINVENTED : 2015/2016 : FOOD & WINE

3

AROUND

THE

TIME

OF

THE

WAYMOUTH BOOM, LEIGH STREET EMERGED AS A PLACE TO EAT, DRINK AND HANG, WITH PLACES SUCH AS WORLD MUSIC BAR CASABLABLA AND THE SMALL BAR UDABERRI, A GAME CHANGER, WHICH COULD BE ARGUED, WAS THE CATALYST FOR THE SMALL BAR RESURGENCE THAT FOLLOWED THANKS TO CHANGES IN THE LIQUOR LICENSING LAWS. When Leigh Street’s neighbouring Peel Street was activated, it created the Leigh/Peel precinct, which is now a world-class bar destination with Clever Little Tailor, Chihuahua, Maybe Mae and others creating a destination for global and local flavours. The precinct’s quality cafés such as Coffee Branch and La Moka join these bars.

Then there is Peel St Restaurant.

Under the guidance of chef Jordan Theodoros (who returned to the city after the success of the regional delight, Aquacaf in Goolwa), Peel St is an unpretentious, hearty place to experience a mix of Middle Eastern and European flavours, which encourages diners to share. Peel St was recently named Australia’s Hottest Value Restaurant of 2015

by The Weekend Australian, which stated, “We challenge anyone to find a dining experience offering so much Africola, Magill Estate, Orana, Etica,

Gourmet Traveller ’s top South

Street ADL. Zonfrillo’s Indigenous food

Botanic Gardens Restaurant and Fino

Australian pick, Jock Zonfrillo’s Orana,

quest has seen him grace the cover of

The Weekend Australian’s Hot 50

Seppeltsfield. Similarly, five South

has in two short years become one

the global food magazine Fool as well

Restaurant 2015 list proved that

Australian restaurants made Gourmet

of this country’s most talked about

as host the Discovery Channel show

Adelaide’s gastronomic credentials

Traveller’s 2016 Top 100 list: Orana

restaurants, as the former Magill Estate

Nomad Chef.

were noticed on a national stage.

(10th place), Magill Estate (11th),

Head Chef’s dream of utilising native

Seven South Australian eateries

Appellation (54th), Africola (60th)

ingredients has proved a hit at both

Another restaurant receiving national

made the top 50 including Peel St,

and Peel St (81st).

his fine dining Orana and his casual

attention is the Botanic Gardens

bang for such modest buck”.

FOOD & WINE

Photos: 3. Sean’s Kitchen. 4. Rigoni’s Bistro.

showcased to a local audience in the best possible manner.

THE

4

REEMERGENCE

OF

ADELAIDE’S DINING SCENE NO

While the new pockets emerge across

Place. The Ebenezer and Vardon Avenue

DOUBT ENCOURAGED NATIONAL

the city, Adelaide’s long-running

precinct has now exceeded expectations

AND

HEAVY

dining strip Gouger Street continues

to become one of the city’s most eclectic

HITTERS TO LAUNCH EATERIES

to evolve. It is still full of wonderful

and electrifying dining and drink strips

IN ADELAIDE. ONE OF THE

cheap and cheerful options such

and is home to Hey Jupiter, Sad:Cafe,

WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS FOOD

as Ying Chow, Ky Chow and Star

East End Providore, East End Cellars,

CELEBRITIES, JAMIE OLIVER,

House but includes new places such

Mother Vine and Nano Café.

Restaurant, which under the control

OPENED

IMPRESSIVELY

as the ramen joint Ryo’s and the

of chef Paul Baker uses perhaps the

DESIGNED ADELAIDE OUTLET FOR

fusion restaurant Mexican Society

Duncan Welgemoed said Adelaide

country’s finest garden (the Adelaide

HIS JAMIE’S ITALIAN CHAIN,

of Chinatown.

would become a food destination in

Botanic Garden) as his personal

WHILE THE CASINO LURED HIGHLY

kitchen garden for seasonal delights

REGARDED CHEFS SEAN CONNOLLY

When it comes to global flavours,

taken 12 months for that prediction to

during the day, as well as nights. The

AND NIC WATT TO LAUNCH SEAN’S

Parwana’s sister restaurant Kutchi Deli

ring true. The time is now.

restaurant resurgence means that the

KITCHEN AND MADAME HANOI TO

delivers remarkable Afghan flavours in a

state’s amazing produce is able to be

GREAT SUCCESS.

delightfully colourful space on Ebenezer

INTERNATIONAL

AN

two years’ time a year ago; well it’s only

ADELAIDE REINVENTED : 2015/2016 : BUILDINGS & INFRASTRUCTURE

ADELAIDE IS CHANGING FOR THE BETTER WORDS BY KIRSTY KELLY

IL

DINGS &

ADELAIDE HAS GOOD BONES.

N

I

FR AS

IT IS A WELL-PLANNED

TRUCTUR

CITY WITH ITS SQUARES AND RING OF PARKLANDS

E

PROVIDING THE FOUNDATION FOR A SUCCESSFUL CITY.

The current iteration of

over the past decade to see

Adelaide’s development is rising

transformational projects approved

from this strong foundation. New

and now built. After a long and

and revitalised buildings and

relatively stagnant period, Adelaide

infrastructure are changing the shape

has picked up the pace. While that

of Adelaide; the way the city functions;

stagnancy may have been lamented

and, who uses the city.

at the time, in retrospect, it enabled Adelaide the breathing space for the

Strong strategic planning and

city to properly plan for the future

positive leadership have combined

and to retain its essential character;

1

BU

IL

DINGS &

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, PLANNING

Photos: 1. South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI).

2. Riverbank Footbridge.

something that many other cities

medical precinct will be a major

have lost to the wrecking ball in

catalyst for redevelopment of the

periods of rapid economic growth.

currently under-developed north-

INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA

2

western quarter of the CBD. The THERE ARE SOME KEY PIECES OF

precinct will inject thousands of

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

jobs and visitors into a part of the

THAT ARE PHYSICALLY REFORMING

city that, until now, has largely been

ADELAIDE. THEY HAVE ACTED AS

the domain of students and night-

CATALYSTS FOR CHANGE, NOT

time revellers. Anchored by the iconic

ONLY PHYSICALLY, BUT IN THE

SAHMRI building, the new buildings

PSYCHE OF THE CITY AND ITS

in this precinct are putting their

PEOPLE.

design stamp on Adelaide. Across in the UniSA City West campus, edgy,

Game changing infrastructure

architectural statements punching

such as the extension of the tram

out from the midst of the institutional

network beyond Victoria Square,

campus blancmange, adding some

through the city, and out to the

much needed style into what was

Entertainment Centre. Major iconic

a tired part of town. This quadrant

new developments such as the new

of the city has the opportunity to

The Riverbank Precinct is Adelaide’s

Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH), the

reinvent itself – there are signs it has

other next big thing. It is critical to

South Australian Health and Medical

started, but it is an area to watch for

tie together the expanding Adelaide

Research Institute (SAHMRI), the

investment and revitalisation.

Convention Centre and the hundreds

Adelaide Convention Centre extension

of thousands of visitors it brings each

and Bowden capitalise on the

ADDING

RENEWED

year; the Festival Theatre; the Casino

connection to the tram. While these

ENERGY INJECTION HAS BEEN

redevelopment; and to effectively

been the activation of our small

Adelaide has a new lease of life. Big

locations were already close to train

THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE

connect it all to the station. There is

streets. Connecting from the train

changes have inspired confidence and

services, the accessibility of the tram

ADELAIDE

OVAL

AND

THE

enormous potential for improvement

and tram, the north-south streets

are sparking investment in both large

network connects them to the heart of

RIVERBANK

PRECINCT.

THE

in this precinct, but it will need strong

including Bank, Leigh and Peel have

developments and small projects.

the city. More organic redevelopment

STADIUM REDEVELOPMENT HAS

design and management to balance

been transformed with some of

Adelaideans are seeing their city

has also occurred, with new hotels,

BROUGHT PEOPLE BACK TO THE

the competing demands of public

Adelaide’s best new small bars and

changing and are connecting with

apartments and office developments

HEART OF THE CITY IN DROVES,

use and commercialisation of space.

restaurants. This is spreading to other

it, visiting the city perhaps more

along King William Street in south

WITH LOCALS AND VISITORS

Opening up more River Torrens-facing

nearby streets and further south to

than ever before. There are exciting

Adelaide capitalising on the tramline

FLOCKING TO THE CITY FOR AFL

development presents an exciting

Topham Mall and Waymouth Street,

design challenges to be addressed

connectivity.

GAMES AND OTHER MAJOR EVENTS.

future for Adelaide, and one that can

where the food and wine culture is

if we are to get it right and capitalise

THE OVAL REVAMP HAS SKILFULLY

be extremely successful if it harnesses

booming. This part of the city, once

on the opportunities present, but

Integrated planning for transport

UPDATED AN OLD ADELAIDE ICON

the power of good urban design.

dead after hours apart from the

this city has talented professionals

and land use in Adelaide has set

AND CONNECTED IT BACK TO THE

colour of Hindley Street, is thriving.

in spades. Over the next decade I

the scene for reshaping the city,

CITY ACROSS THE NEW RIVERBANK

It’s not just the large-scale

Changes in policy and liquor licencing,

predict Adelaide is going to be the

with redevelopment leveraging off

FOOTBRIDGE, DIRECTLY LINKING

infrastructure and buildings that

plus the injection of relatively small

city to watch.

the relatively high public transport

INTO THE HISTORIC CENTRAL

are changing the shape of Adelaide

investments in upgrades to the public

connectivity of the city. The tram

STATION.

though. A smaller-scale change

realm have leveraged serious returns

spreading through Adelaide has

for the image for Adelaide.

extension combined with the new

TO

THE

BUILDINGS & INFRASTRUCTURE

KIRSTY KELLY IS

ADELAIDE REINVENTED : 2015/2016 : CITY LIVING

It was the early 1990s. Looking back, it was most likely at the heart of the State Bank collapse – the worst of times. But I had no idea, no inkling.

I was the 10-year-old country-raised kid who was so foreign to – and so frightened of – the city I wouldn’t walk the 60 metres to the corner of Sturt Street to investigate the weird wrought iron tram stop at the end of my line of sight.

I had never met anyone who lived

TY

LIVING

in the City Square. I was only in the city because my grandfather and I

I

C

TY

would drive from Murray Bridge to

LIVING C I T

CITY TRANSFORMATION WORDS BY MATT CLEMOW

‘the city’ for his work on Wednesday mornings – and that was only because the Ingham’s factory closer at Strathalbyn had closed.

My only recollections of that time that matter are a little café/snack shop a little bit over the road and, due west, there was the tram stop. It was always about 6am so I don’t remember the tram coming often. And I remember the streets were always empty. It was as if no one lived nearby.

And then Pop and I would take the delivery and drive back up the freeway home, away from the city.

It’s now 2002 – July 2, 2002 in fact – and it’s my first day of work as a cadet journalist at The Advertiser,

THE DECADE-LONG REVITALISATION

on the corner of King William Street

OF WAYMOUTH STREET EMBODIES

and Waymouth Street.

WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE REST OF THE CITY

I’ve moved from Mount Barker, where I grew up and schooled – just 25 minutes up the Federal Highway – but this genuinely feels like the city.

But what kind of city comparatively?

1

Y

LI

VING CI

MATT CLEMOW IS GENERAL MANAGER

Photos: 1. Mellor Street. 2. Peel Street. Photo by Sam Noonan, reproduced with permission of the Office for Design and Architecture, SA (ODASA).

Waymouth Street in 2002 was three

COMMITTEE FOR ADELAIDE

old News Limited buildings, an openair car park and an underdeveloped corner that later became the redeveloped Rendezvous (now Adelaide’s

newspaper staff) had our special

revitalisation, is best explained in

story,

and/or

lunches over the road at Manna Café,

the story of the General Post Office

just next to the Scientology place and

precinct and the building of Tower

down from the bar called Fad that

One – a commercial office building

never made money and eventually

in Waymouth Street.

CITY LIVING

Peppers) Hotel. We (the 700-odd

closed.

In 2007, City Central Tower 1 was This was the total level of activity for

opened as South Australia’s first

one of the most prominent corners

five-star Green Star building, with

in Adelaide just 13 years ago. And

chilled beams across its 20 floors and

not one of my colleagues lived in the

a new benchmark for offices.

city – the inner suburbs of Norwood and Parkside were the places to rent

It’s firstly important to note the South

and live.

Australian Government, as part of its renewal energy targets, drove

FROM 2001 TO 2009, THE CBD

a level of lease pre-commitment

POPULATION OF ADELAIDE NEAR

– which funded the building – to

DOUBLED – FROM 12,215 TO

reward its energy ambitions. It’s

20,525 (IT IS NOW ABOUT

also true to note a great number of

23,000) AND THIS INFLUX OF

the development industry fought this

PEOPLE FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED

initiative, labelling it an (expensive)

THE CITY.

environmental frolic.

Since 2009, another 3000 odd people

But what is beyond doubt is this

have moved into the city and the state

inclusion of 31,000 square metres of

is targeting 50,000 by 2024 on the

office space in this dilapidated street

back of successful redevelopments of

changed the economic fortunes of

the Convention Centre and Riverbank,

its surrounds. As they say, people

the acclaimed new Adelaide Oval

go where people are.

development, liquor licencing changes that encourage Melbourne-

So let’s treat Waymouth Street as the

like laneway activation and planning

microcosm for our city. (For players

changes which allow for a higher-

at home, Waymouth Street is the

density of living than the traditional

western street, two-fifths north of

three-storey communities.

the central, mile square, created – on

also much of the government’s State

THIS 100 METRE STRIP OF

PRESS, HAS A SMALLER BROTHER,

sketch paper – by Colonel William

Development department, Ernst and

COMMERCIAL

HAS

MELT, AND ITS OWN PRE-MEAL

Light about 170 years ago.)

Young are next door in the flagship City

SPARKED A HIGHER LEVEL OF

COCKTAIL BAR OUT THE BACK,

Central corner building overlooking

RETAIL

CALLED PROOF.

Waymouth Street is home to ANZ

the Town Hall, and Keith Murdoch

NATIONALLY-RECOGNISED

House, the 20-storey building that

House stands on the other side –

RESTAURANTS NOW CO-EXIST. THE

houses the offices of Deloitte and

housing News Limited’s SA operation.

LARGER OF THE RESTAURANTS,

I contend that Waymouth Street is a perfect, decade-long, case study of this change.

In fact, to drill down, I believe

2

ACTIVITY

ACTIVITY.

THREE

ADELAIDE REINVENTED : 2015/2016 : CITY LIVING

OVER THE DECADE TO 2015, THE OLD CAFES HAVE SLOWLY MADE WAY FOR BETTER FOOD AND BEVERAGE OFFERINGS, NEW PLAYERS, NEW INVESTORS AND NEW TYPES OF THINKING. THE LATEST ADDITION IS JACK GREENS, A NEW YORK-STYLED SALAD AND SOUP BAR TO PROVIDE A HEALTHY LUNCH OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ACCOUNTANTS, AUDITORS AND ANALYSTS BASED OVER THE ROAD. The activity is just now, eight years in, stretching a street behind, a block further west and into the car-park breezeway retail shops that have long been empty and/or of little economic value.

I also live in this street. I am fortunate enough to own a 119 square metre apartment that cost less than $500,000 in 2012. It was built as part of a joint Federal and State Government model mixed tenure building.

The policy question from all of this is what was the formula.

What we do know is that the mild energy policy intervention quickly moved from

3

an expensive, environmental frolic into a game-changing imperative for all socially-minded companies in this

then onto the Entertainment Centre on

space. We also know that the influx of

the city fringe (2010) – allowing more

people had a marked – albeit gradual

people to move through the CBD.

– ongoing impact on all the businesses in the precinct.

My considered view is the undeveloped, near-forgotten, 2002 state of Waymouth

It’s also important to note the light-rail

Street simply created development

tramline was extended north of Victoria

opportunities that, once unlocked,

Square, past the Town Hall corner, to

proved their own potential. The area

first the University of South Australia

itself, once unlocked, created its own

campus on North Terrace (in 2007) and

success. And it continues to do so.

Photos: 3. Waymouth Street. 4. Uno Apartments.

the Local Government Authority and

OUR SOLE AMBITION FOR SOUTH

past the back of new Royal Adelaide

Adelaide City Council, on land held by

AUSTRALIA NEEDS TO BE AS A

Hospital, past the new Adelaide

ratepayers. The project has brought

PLACE OF OPPORTUNITY, WHERE

Oval and back down to Adelaide

more than 200 people into the city,

PEOPLE CAN MAKE LIFE CHOICES

University and the other institutions.

adding to the gradual population

BASED ON WHAT ADELAIDE HAS

The world-famous Adelaide Central

of the city and hopefully attracting

TO OFFER. WE WANT TO CREATE

Market is three small streets from

more movers as they get to see to

THIS ECONOMIC ACTIVITY SO

our apartment in the other direction.

the product on offer.

THAT ADELAIDE IS A PLACE

We are within a 10-minute walk to

I’m writing this contribution waiting

OR YOUNG PEOPLE CAN RETURN TO

three squares, and two frontages

for my son to be born – he was due

AFTER THEY HAVE LEFT.

to the Adelaide Park Lands and the

three days ago but is taking his time.

WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN STAY

spaces within. We have a car that we

My little son can do whatever he likes

rarely use, and a scooter that also

I wish the world for him. Of course.

in his life – I hope the 2035 Adelaide

largely sits idle. Short of some mid-

But amongst those things, I wish

we all build is good enough to keep

winter rain, Adelaide is the perfect

that he gets the best times of this

him.

pedestrian city.

city. I hope he gets the life I get to live now, but I also hope he is one of

My wife is a Finn, who studied in

thousands of families making the

the UK and Dublin before living in

same life choices.

Copenhagen and moving to Adelaide.

Our apartment life is a perfectly normal European existence, save for under floor heating and a moreconcentrated CBD population.

Part of the current population push is best on show in Sturt Street, 40 metres west of where I stood frozen as that 10-year-old, at the highly successful Ergo apartment My family’s day-to-day lived

developments. Two of my best friends

experience is what should be

live there – they have bought their

attracting people to live in the CBD.

first home. Both city workers, one is from Naracoorte, the other from

My office is a few steps shy of 500

Seaview Downs and I think they would

metres from my door. My wife’s

love to raise their kids in the city. They

office is just 800 metres away, on

are part of the change.

the Riverbank where the jogging track provides perfect post work exercise.

Similarly, the Ergo development

She runs past the South Australian

has also involved some level of

Health and Medical Research

intervention – it is a joint venture with

4

CITY LIVING

Institute (SAHMRI) and its workers,

ADELAIDE REINVENTED : 2015/2016 : HERITAGE RETHOUGHT

1

RI

TAGE RE T

O

H

UG HT

INSPIRED

BY THE PAST

HERIT

WORDS BY ELIZABETH LITTLE

AG E

THE VALUE OF HERITAGE, LIKE DARRYL KERRIGAN’S HOME IN THE CASTLE, IS ALL ABOUT THE VIBE

The classic Australian film The

KNOWN

DESCRIPTION.

YET

Castle tells the story of the family’s

HERITAGE VALUE IS MORE THAN

home being their castle. To a bank or

THE SUM OF THESE PARTS.

a developer it’s worth a dollar value; to the family, it’s priceless. The

It’s having a wine at your favourite pub,

premise of the story is that a place is

and loving that they still have the old

of different value to different people,

fridges behind the bar.

for different reasons.

And that’s what heritage is.

It’s fortunate that Adelaide has

good food, great wine and a human

awesome seats in the Southern Stand

retained a large proportion of

scale that embraces visitors.

where you can see the Hill, and the

It’s the beautiful corner façade of the

its heritage buildings, through a

Piccadilly Cinema, and the light that

combination of planning controls,

scoreboard, and the game all at once.

But change is inevitable, isn’t it?

floods the curved stair inside that

and community support for

THE HERITAGE VALUE OF A PLACE

makes you want to go and watch

maintaining buildings and places

That pub that you love gets more

absolutely necessary, but they

IS SOMETHING WE ATTEMPT

Casablanca.

that are meaningful to them. The

comfortable lounges, a new house

bring new life and interest to

contribution of these places to the

band, and the wine list gets updated

places that can otherwise fade in

and more amazing.

our estimation and become less

TO QUANTIFY, DESCRIBE AND CONTAIN, ASCRIBING CRITERIA

It’s going to Adelaide Oval, and sitting

public realm improves the liveability

AND APPLYING THRESHOLDS,

on the Hill under the old scoreboard

of our city, and provides a solid

STRIVING TO CREATE A FINITE,

and Moreton Bay figs.

backdrop for tourism, supported by

These changes might not be

desirable, less valued. The prospect You get tickets to the Oval, but in the

of change and revitalisation might

RE

THO

UGHT

ELIZABETH LITTLE IS AN ARCHITECT

Photos: 1. The Institute Building, State Library of South Australia.

2. Electra House.

AT GRIEVE GILLETT DIMITTY ANDERSEN ARCHITECTS

that we can’t do creative, unusual and

for the legal and judicial profession.

Adelaide General Post Office to this

HERITAGE

innovative things because it’s not

In between stints as a theatre, the

streetscape if handled with skill.

ADELAIDE PROVIDE A BACKDROP

BUILDINGS

IN

appropriate in a heritage context; that

building was used as a dance hall, the

our new buildings and places need to

City Mission headquarters, a horse

The shift in thinking of heritage places

CONSTANTLY EVOLVING AND

be respectful.

bazaar, and a car park.

having to be old and pretty, towards

CHANGING. SOMETIMES THEY

an understanding of places that are

ARE A CANVAS FOR A PLAYFUL

TO A NEW CITYSCAPE THAT IS

They can be all these things. Talented

After government acquisition, the

important in different ways presents

PIECE OF ART – EVER NOTICED

designers, architects and builders

theatre was opened again as a

an exciting future – an example being

THE YELLOW DRIPS FALLING

(working with forward thinking

performance space in the 1990s. It

the former MLC building on Victoria

FROM

planners and approval authorities)

also serves as an exhibition hall, and

Square. This important building was

VENUE ON MORPHETT STREET?

have created momentum in Adelaide

spectacular wedding venue. The focus

extremely technologically advanced

to start taking some steps towards a

in this case on managing heritage

when completed in 1957 and put

So maybe, there’s no real right or

rethinking of our approach.

value lies in protecting important

Adelaide at the forefront of building

wrong approach in managing heritage

fabric – the physical elements, if you

technology and set a benchmark

places and the values we attribute

The graceful brick arches of the

like. The additional uses now found

for new ‘skyscrapers’ in the city. A

to them. There is simply a need to

Western Grandstand at Adelaide Oval

for the building only add layers to the

proposal to gradually restore the now

understand what is of value, and

are a stark, but successful, contrast

story of the place, and allow different

mismatched and damaged glazing

why – and I think most importantly,

to the steel structure soaring above.

groups of people to experience and

to its original ‘jewel like’ appearance

to who? It is, really, all about the vibe.

In understanding why the proposal

enjoy it, in different ways.

will hopefully return the building to a suitable prominence.

by heritage authorities (with what

The impact on rethinking our

is clearly a ‘heavy’ intervention), we

approach to heritage to the

need to understand that the use of

appearance and feel of the city is

the place is one of its key aspects of

probably not immediately evident

significance. The ability to provide

– although the rise of places such

continuing use as a sporting ground,

as Leigh Street, Peel Street, and

combined with retention of some

progressive developments along

specific aspects of the site – the

King William Street are a visible

view over the Hill to the cathedral, for

cue that things are changing. The

instance – provided sufficient grounds

renovation of, and addition to, Electra

to see the transformation of the place

House, the reinvention of the CML

allow an unused or unknown space

into the ground it is today. And the

building into the Mayfair Hotel and

to flourish and evolve into something

scoreboard and grandstand are still

the popular transformation of the

new, interesting; a place people want

heritage listed.

former Westpac banking chamber

to visit and get to know.

into Jamie’s Italian – not to mention On the flipside, insisting on a

the rooftop bar (2KW) with the best

The concept of heritage in Adelaide

particular use for a place can be

view in Adelaide – are individual

has had a bad rap over the years.

challenging. The Queen’s Theatre

pieces in a streetscape, but pieces

We’re accused of stifling development,

in Playhouse Lane was constructed

that start to tell a story of what that

of doing things slowly, afraid to let our

as a theatre, but only managed two

street could eventually be like as a

hair down and let fly with the creative,

years of operation in this guise before

whole. Consider the contribution

the unusual, the innovative. We’re told

becoming a courtroom and offices

planned redevelopment of the

2

FOWLER’S

LIVE

HERITAGE RETHOUGHT

to upgrade the Oval was accepted

THE

ADELAIDE REINVENTED : 2015/2016 : SPACES & PLACES

ADELAIDE’S CHANGING FACE WORDS BY DAMIAN SCHULTZ

ADELAIDE’S URBAN REALM

AC

ES & PL A

IS EVOLVING AND THE CITY IS NO LONGER A

E

C

S SP

PREDICTABLE EXPERIENCE

ACES &

PL 1

AC

ES

SPACES

DAMIAN SCHULTZ IS A DIRECTOR

Photos: 1. Rundle Mall. 2. Leigh Street.

The increased activity within the city’s streets and laneways highlights

OF TCL

2

the community is embracing a wave of large and small city destinations.

Along with ephemeral activities, Adelaide has an evolving suite of event spaces that spring into life at different times of the year.

Adelaide’s revival is due, in part, to large revitalising projects resulting from significant investment led by the State Government and Adelaide City Council.

These projects have helped reinvigorate the city as they inspire and encourage discourse on design, as well as challenge the sometimesconservative values that our city might have accepted in the past. Executed seen in the last century, these projects now provide the backbone of the city.

STATE GOVERNMENT AND ADELAIDE

The first stage of the Victoria Square

Along with the major city projects,

Projects that have started to

CITY COUNCIL. THIS SUCCESSFUL

redevelopment established a flexible

Adelaide’s laneways and streets are

transform the city landscape include:

PROJECT

THE

space in the centre of the city and is

transforming the city experience.

Victoria Square, University upgrades,

ACCESSIBILITY OF OUR CULTURAL

designed to host major events. To

Adelaide is no longer a predictable

North Terrace, Rundle Mall, the

BOULEVARD AND TRIGGERED RE-

date it has provided the stage for

experience, even for more

South Australian Health and Medical

DEVELOPMENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY

internationally-renowned events

adventurous locals. The changing

Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide

OF ADELAIDE FRONTAGE AND

including the Tour Down Under,

journey through our key laneways

Oval and the Riverbank Footbridge.

WAR MEMORIAL WALK ADJACENT

Tasting Australia and World Solar

can be a trip of surprise and delight,

Those to come include Adelaide

KINTORE AVENUE. OPPORTUNITIES

Challenge 2015. It also provides a

involving numerous new destinations

Central Market, repurposing of the

EXIST FOR THE NORTH TERRACE

platform for people to comfortably

to explore. The edges along these

old Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) site,

MASTERPLAN TO BE REALISED

sit and watch the city go through its

laneways are providing the stage

completion of the new hospital and

ACROSS THE NEW/OLD RAH AND

day-to-day movements. Future stages

to activate the streets. The building

biomedical precinct, the redeveloped

SAHMRI FRONTAGES. IMPORTANTLY

to reconfigure the roads will encourage

frontages, occupants and street

Riverbank and Festival Plaza precinct.

THIS

THESE

development of the building edges

furnishings spill onto the pavement

SIGNIFICANT BUT CONTRASTING

and the southern garden, including

with a sense of warmth, authenticity

THREE STAGES OF NORTH TERRACE

BUILDING PROJECTS TOGETHER

amenities, and planned works to be

and personality.

HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED SINCE THE

WITH A CONSISTENT URBAN DESIGN

undertaken by Adelaide City Council

MASTERPLAN (WHICH COMMENCED

OUTCOME ALONG THE WHOLE LENGTH

will create fluid links back to the

IN 1999) WAS ENDORSED BY THE

OF NORTH TERRACE.

Central Market.

TRANSFORMED

WILL

TIE

SPACES & PLACES

well, and with a built quality not often

ADELAIDE REINVENTED : 2015/2016 : SPACES & PLACES

4

Key laneway and street transformation projects include: Bank Street, Leigh Street, Peel Street, Waymouth Street, Franklin Street, Ebenezer Place, Vardon Avenue, Halifax Street and Gilles Street, along with many bespoke businesses offering unique product.

The closure of Leigh Street to traffic and reconfiguration of Bank and Peel Streets has reinvigorated this important series of laneways that link back to the Central Market and the Riverbank in the opposite direction. The new approach to street design and place has encouraged empty premises to be occupied and new businesses to be established. Trade now spills into the streets that are filled with people in high spirits enjoying the atmosphere.

So what is different?

WITH THE REDESIGN OF THE CITY LANDSCAPE, VISITORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ENGAGE IN THE SPACES AS THEY MOVE, STOP, LISTEN AND WATCH. OUR STREETS ARE BECOMING MORE INTERACTIVE AND ALLOW FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION. Art on blank walls and streets, a revival of artistic shop front/window displays, and building frontages with personality to tell a story of what is going on inside, all add to an interesting street character. Multiple artworks can be found on walls, road surfaces and building entries in the East End and within Bank Street, Leigh Street and Topham Mall, such as the large mural that greets when you visit Lady Burra Brewhouse, Bar and Kitchen on Topham Mall.

Materials that clad buildings and furnish 3

the street are becoming more authentic, with warmth and character, and the

Photos: 3. Bank Street. 4. Vardon Avenue.

owners of these establishments are personable and passionate about what they do. Footpaths and car parks are being taken over by people, due to more generous widths, additional planting and parklets that provide rest points to stop and pause. These rest points are being scaled for human use as intimate places for conversation, while also providing much needed comfort from the natural elements.

Traditionally defined edges such as kerbs separating cars, bike paths and pedestrians are being challenged to be more inclusive in the street fabric.

Parklets in Bank Street conceal the road edge, extend the footpath and provide numerous forms of seating and access points under shady trees.

between the sea and the sandy beach, the friction of the ‘street boundary’ is our opportunity to provide the much-needed energy to revitalise the streets. This all actively contributes to the personality of the city with invigorated shop fronts.

Great progress has been made to create an inviting laneways network with staged work set to continue.

BIGGER CITY PROJECTS, URBAN DESIGN AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE ARE NATURAL CATALYSTS ENABLING CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF LANEWAYS, STREET FRONTAGES AND BUILDINGS. THIS IS ALL PART OF THE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL REVOLUTION CHANGING THE FACE OF ADELAIDE.

SPACES & PLACES

Like the ever-changing foam edge

ADELAIDE REINVENTED : 2015/2016 : FUTURE POSSIBILITIES

A CITY OF OPPORTUNITY WORDS BY ANDREW WALLACE

TU

RE POSSI

ADELAIDE HAS REDISCOVERED

LI

BI

TI

ITSELF AND THE WORLD IS

ES FUTURE

DISCOVERING ADELAIDE, BUT THERE IS MORE TO COME

PO

1

As an interior designer, my

At the same time we curiously sought

preoccupation with cities lies in

to abandon our city with businesses

how people use and occupy the built

lured to the inner suburban fringes

environment rather than solely its

of Greenhill and Fullarton Roads

structural form or technological

while simultaneously increasing the

infrastructure. So, in considering the

density through a number of tallish

future of our city, I began to consider

but stubby edifices on King William

how people have changed the way

and Grenfell Streets. Retail seemed

they use our city and importantly

to lose its sparkle and the city (like

what change is to come. In the mid-

many other city centres) had lost

are beginning again to appreciate the

80s, we saw the revitalisation of the

much of its uniqueness and parts of

natural assets of being a small city.

East End of the city as it transitioned

the community just stopped ‘going

Adelaide has rediscovered itself and

from a wholesale fruit and vegetable

to town’.

the world is discovering Adelaide.

new dining precinct somewhat devoid

Now, there is a city resurgence. In

In thinking about the future, it is very

of artists. Our city attracted new

the cultural and commercial centre

tempting to focus on technologies.

events and we used the streets in

of our state we are rediscovering our

For example, innovations such as

different ways.

pride. We look less to other places and

driverless cars excite for the potential

market precinct full of artists to a

SS

IBILITIE

Photos: 1 & 2. New Royal Adelaide Hospital.

to improve road safety and fuel

ANDREW WALLACE IS PROGRAM DIRECTOR INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE, SCHOOL OF ART, ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

2

efficiency and open new economic opportunities. What is the point of travelling to town in your car if there is no reason to go to the city in the first place? This brings me to the central point of what I think the future of our city is about, and that is opportunity.

Let’s look at a number of areas where this opportunity is emerging.

THE RELOCATION OF THE ROYAL ADELAIDE HOSPITAL BRINGS OPPORTUNITY TO A SPACE IN THE WEST OF THE CITY. (IT MAY BE PARKLAND IN THEORY BUT IN FACT IT WAS A RAIL YARD). THE STRATEGIC LOCATION OF A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL RESEARCH FACILITY (AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS FROM

yet in the future if, like North Terrace

TWO UNIVERSITIES FOR MEDICAL

you consider the whole, you again

RESEARCH

start to see something different.

AND

FACILITIES)

TEACHING

CREATES

NEW

With the significant expansion of

OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WEST END.

the University of South Australia’s City West campus coupled with the and Government House at the centre,

aforementioned developments on

for a new generation of health care

the ‘wellbeing’/education precinct

North Terrace, the West End of this

professionals but cater for us all

to West Terrace and the cultural/

axis stands to be a much busier

in terms of new innovations both

education precinct to East Terrace.

place. Opportunity again will exist

technical and cultural. Further,

North Terrace will be a place where

here for people to live in larger

the vacated hospital site provides

opportunity exists for education/

numbers in this part of the city both

opportunity for new civic and

culture and wellbeing over the entire

through new student accommodation

commercial activity in the east,

width of the city.

developments and permanent

building on its highly successful

residents. Further, if the visions

transition from market precinct

Moving one street south to the

for expanding the existing cultural

to a thriving retail and hospitality

Rundle Street/Rundle Mall/Hindley

cluster of UniSA/Adelaide College

destination. Standing back from each

Street axis (the major retail and

of the Arts/JamFactory/Australian

of these individual developments we

hospitality spine of the city). We see

can start to see the future of North

these three places in isolation and

Terrace in totality; Parliament House

often in competition with each other

FUTURE POSSIBILITIES

These opportunities are not only

ADELAIDE REINVENTED : 2015/2016 : FUTURE POSSIBILITIES

Photos: 3. North Terrace. 4. RIverbank Precinct.

The central section of Hindley Street

the positive qualities of ‘slow’ and

is currently moving through a period

build a food and wine culture that is

of change. With the street’s new

based on our terroir.

hotel developments, the improved access to Adelaide Oval, a return of

THE CITY BEING SO INTIMATELY

commercial cinemas and a redress

CONNECTED TO FOOD PRODUCTION

of liquor licensing legislation, this

REGIONS AND PEOPLE – AND THE

will bring significant opportunity for a

CITY BEING SO CONNECTED TO THE

reawakening of daytime commerce and

NATION AND WORLD VIA AN EASY

a broader, richer and safer early evening

TO NAVIGATE AIRPORT – ADELAIDE

and night time economy. Like North

WILL BE A FOOD AND WINE CITY,

Terrace, the Hindley/Rundle axis in the

NOT A CITY WITH A COUPLE OF

future will be a vital commercial and

FOOD AND WINE STRIPS.

cultural corridor with a rich collection of complementary and overlapping uses.

The ready connections we take for granted in Adelaide need to be further

Importantly, this activity will stretch from

developed; the city is not an island and

West Terrace to East Terrace. The future

will remain the centre of our greater

of the city lies in the whole city being a

city and state in the future. The future

place of opportunity rather than pockets

Adelaide will be better connected via

of activity interspersed between areas of

excellent public transport (hopefully

apparent dullness. Our city streets are

trams) around the city and to the

interdependent and connected, for the

suburbs. Importantly, Adelaide

city to be a place where people look to

will be a place for all ages, young

live, work and visit this interdependency

entrepreneurs and empty nesters

and complexity needs to be recognised

looking for a more cosmopolitan

and nurtured. In the future, I trust we

lifestyle are already coming here, but

stop looking at our city as a collection of

families will also live here accessing

‘main streets’ that sit in competition with

the proposed new schools. Adelaide

suburban commercial strips or shopping

will again become a place that’s great

centres but rather a three-dimensional,

for children, teenagers, young adults

intertwined and varied assemblage of

and older people.

experiences that co-exist within the green ring of the Adelaide Park Lands.

Experimental Art Foundation/Nexus/

3

In the future, not only will South Australians seek to live and work,

Media Resource Centre into a larger

The city will certainly be denser

learn and have fun in the city, but

entity anchored with a large new

but will never lose its human scale;

also increased numbers will visit a

performance space are realised,

Adelaide can demonstrate that small

city that has grown into a compelling

then the West End will develop into

is genuinely beautiful if it chooses to.

destination from North to South and

another important cultural hub in the

This is a city that can demonstrate

East to West Terraces.

city to complement North Terrace and

the value of quality over quantity

the Festival Centre.

particularly in design. It will embrace

4

CONCLUSION Adelaide has always been charming, relaxed and beautiful – a boutique city that was one of this country’s best-kept secrets.

Now, Adelaide has embraced and strengthened its charms with a pulse that beats throughout the city.

And the world has noticed.

counterparts for inspiration but looking

for locals and visitors thanks to the

The establishment of the Health and

confidence of entrepreneurs to start

within. With our Adelaide Park Lands,

freeing up of outdoor dining, taking

Biomedical Precinct on North Terrace,

up and carry out business in our city,

multitude of engaging festivals, a

advantage of the city’s great climate.

is set to be the largest precinct of its

a place that is thriving on innovation

kind in the southern hemisphere and

and a point of difference.

flourishing multicultural heritage, IN 2015, ADELAIDE WAS THE ONLY

access to brilliant produce and with

Adelaide hasn’t had a rush of

will activate the city’s north-western

AUSTRALIAN CITY LISTED IN THE

world-class wine regions and scenic

developments like some other

corner. This positions Adelaide to be a

In myriad ways many have contributed

NEW YORK TIMES’ 52 PLACES TO

landscapes at our doorstep, we know

Australian cities where character

leader in health training, research and

to the city’s reinvention including

GO WHILE LONELY PLANET RANKED

what makes the city tick and we aren’t

has been lost; rather Adelaide’s

clinical services; and the precinct’s

entrepreneurs, universities, community

ADELAIDE NUMBER NINE IN ITS

afraid to showcase it to the world.

development has been undertaken with

strong commercialisation focus opens

and governments.

purpose. This is to our advantage. The

the door to new investment and job opportunities.

TOP DESTINATIONS FOR 2014.

ADELAIDE CONSISTENTLY APPEARS

Adelaide is becoming a well-

city is growing and being revitalised in

IN THE TOP 10 OF THE WORLD’S

connected and cosmopolitan city

innovative ways, which means its allure

MOST LIVEABLE CITY LIST AND WAS

with beautiful buildings new and

won’t be lost now or in the future. We are

With new boutique and exclusive

commercial life; a city where everyone

RANKED NUMBER FIVE IN 2015.

old, intriguing laneways and spaces

paving the way for better and affordable

hotels and residential developments

can comfortably visit and explore, live,

that invite people to explore and

city living that offers a quality of life that

on the horizon, there will be a buzz

work and invest. Crucially, Adelaide is a

Importantly, Adelaide is a favoured

play. Then there are the restaurants

is second-to-none. We are admiring

that continues to charge the city as

city that will excite and inspire.

destination because the city is

and bars that are truly world-class,

our city as it grows and matures as a

more people come to live and stay.

not looking to its eastern state

many of which are now more attractive

destination that is uniquely Adelaide.

There is a recognised increase in the

Adelaide is the heart of South Australia’s civic, cultural and

CONCLUSION