Following a four year makeover, Fort Largs has opened up to the public as a one off community hub showcasing local businesses and South Australia’s defence history.
A ceremony in late November marked the official opening of the $10 million heritage restoration project.
The historic beachfront site of the former Fort Largs Police Academy at Taperoo was sold by Renewal SA on behalf of SAPOL to developer Peet in 2020 following a public expression of interest process and the residential redevelopment (with more than 200 homes) of this 7.1 hectare portion of the site is well underway.
Conservation and adaptive reuse works to the 3,000sqm state heritage listed Fort Largs are now complete together with a new café and function centre, a $10 million investment bringing a piece of history to life and opening to the public for the first time in its 140 year history.
Fort Largs has a storied military history, becoming a strategic defence site equipped with cannons to protect the South Australia shores in the late 19th century. It has had many roles throughout its history, including as a home for the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps, and later as the South Australian Police Academy.
An aspirational residential suburb now, it is 30 minutes travel time by car from the Adelaide CBD.