Construction is now underway at Southwark Grounds, marking a major milestone in the creation of Adelaide’s next great neighbourhood.

Over the coming year, nearly 250 new homes will begin to take shape, transforming this now vacant parcel of land into a vibrant and thriving community.

Local boutique builder Blag Homes is leading the way, having started groundworks on the first 17 townhouses, known as Founder’s Row, along Holland Street on behalf of Renewal SA.

Designed by Studio Nine architects, these townhouses will set a benchmark for quality and design across the precinct.

Following this, a mix of local and interstate developers and designers will drive the early delivery of Southwark Grounds, breaking ground on approximately 220 apartments and townhouses next year, including:

• A diverse range of housing typologies, featuring predominantly high-quality apartments will be delivered by Otello and Fortis on the corner of Holland and Winwood Street
• A mix of two-to-four-bedroom townhouses on the corner of Cawthorne Street and Anderson Street delivered by South Australian developer Kolabb, in partnership with builder Centina and funding partner ICAM
• A collection of two- and three-bedroom townhouses on the corner of Cawthorne Street and Anderson Street delivered by Contour Property, in partnership with builder Blag Homes

Further development partners will be revealed in the coming months as the balance of contracts are confirmed.

Buyers interested in being among the first residents of Southwark Grounds can now register their interest in the Founder’s Row townhouses.

Adelaide-based agency Polly Property will lead the sales campaign, with homes expected to officially go on sale in November. These will include premium townhouses equipped with high-quality fixtures and a rooftop deck, to smaller homes that meet the HomeSeekerSA affordability criteria.

The announcement follows the introduction of a two-stream development structure earlier this year, designed to fast-track delivery and attract a diverse mix of developers to work simultaneously on the precinct’s western edge.

Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said interest from both developers and buyers had been exceptionally strong, with thousands expressing interest in the project since its launch in April.

“We are moving at pace to realise the state government’s ambition for the former West End Brewery site,” Mr Wingard said.

He said early activity and strong market interest would also help support development on the remaining land, earmarked for one master developer to deliver two-thirds of the precinct, and comprising at least 1,000 homes, retail, open space and the restoration of the state heritage-listed Walkerville Brew Tower.

“This interest to date shows just what a compelling proposition Southwark Grounds is,” he said.

“We are committed to working with the registered parties on the development of the remaining land and hope to be in a position to announce details of this in coming months.”

Founders Row, to be delivered by Renewal SA, designed by Studio Nine architects and built by boutique firm Blag Homes, is located on the western edge of Southwark Grounds along Holland Street, just footsteps from Bloom restaurant, Warehouse Gym, Thirty-Five Stirling café and Brightstar Brewing.

The homes will comprise four distinct designs, a mix of two and three storey homes showcasing quality, character and product diversity to meet a range of buyer needs.

The premium options in this first release are a range of spacious double- storey residences, with a rooftop terrace, offering generous floorplans, landscaped courtyards and high-quality finishes, ultimately fulfilling the desires of buyers looking to purchase in this inner-city locality.

Each includes a large master suite with walk-in robe, ensuite and private balcony, two additional bedrooms, a second bathroom, upstairs living area and a double garage.

Downstairs features an open plan kitchen, living and dining with a guest restroom, overlooking a landscaped courtyard.

At the more affordable end are three double-storey homes with open-plan ground floor living and a spacious, studio-style upstairs bedroom. These homes will be available to eligible buyers through HomeSeeker SA.

Joe Blagojevic, Managing Director of Blag said he was happy to be working with Renewal SA on another project and was pleased with the progress his team was making on 23 townhouses currently under construction at nearby Bowden.

“We knew we could bring the same capability, speed and quality to Southwark Grounds,” Mr Blagojevic said.

Mr Blagojevic said he was working to an accelerated program, and his team had hit the ground running.

“We are on target to have all the slabs completed by the end of October and we’re looking to start delivering the homes to the first lot of residents by the end of 2026,” he said.

“Projects like Southwark Grounds aren’t just about housing, they’re about building lasting communities, and we are proud to play a role in what Renewal SA have set out to do.”

Southwark Grounds is targeting 1,300 homes, with 20% of dwellings created through the precinct meeting the affordable criteria of HomeSeeker SA and the community housing providers, through a mix of townhouses and apartments. ‘

The development will also offer significant open space, retail and hospitality.

Renewal SA will commence civil construction to support the announced developments by the end of 2025, delivering a series of new streets, publicly accessible open space and laneways to support the growing development.

Southwark Grounds will champion sustainability, targeting a 6 Star Green Star Communities rating, with all buildings required to achieve 5 Star Green Star Buildings (or equivalent) certification.

Renewal SA acquired the former brewery site in December 2023 from Lion Beer Wine & Spirits Pty Ltd through a competitive market process.

Renewal SA expects the first residents to move into the first townhouses, Founder’s Row, by the end of 2026, with the first stage, making up about a third of Southwark Grounds, targeting substantial completion in 2028.