Colonel William Light’s former home and garden will rise again at Southwark Grounds, more than a century after the cottage was demolished.

A modern architectural installation will reinterpret its roofline and bring the cottage’s centuries-old remains back into the public realm as the centrepiece of the first public park at Southwark Grounds.

The project, being undertaken by Renewal SA, will recognise the history of the site where Colonel Light, South Australia’s first Surveyor-General and the town planner responsible for Adelaide’s original city layout, chose to build his home, Theberton Cottage at Southwark, in 1839.

The project will reimagine the cottage’s roofline through three architecturally designed peaks, positioned exactly where it once stood.

Cutting through the roof peaks will be three walking axes representing Colonel Light’s connection to Karrawirra Parri/River Torrens, the Adelaide CBD and Gulf St Vincent, where the original sailing ships arrived during the settlement of Adelaide.

The structure will recreate the footprint of the cottage’s original brick footings, discovered during excavation in 2023, more than a century after the home was demolished in the 1920s.

The original footings will remain underground for protection, with the new forms rising in their place and providing views into an old well uncovered on the site.

Matt Hogan, Renewal SA’s Acting Executive Director of Property and Major Projects, said incorporating the site’s layered history into the fabric of its architecture and public spaces would ensure Southwark Grounds maintained a strong connection to its past.

To be known as Colonel Light Park, the new 2,460 square metre public space will be located immediately adjacent to the first retail and hospitality offerings to be delivered within the precinct, on the ground floor of The Bond apartment building announced earlier this year.

Colonel Light Park was designed by international landscape firm ASPECT Studios, which also led the design of nearby Bowden Park, with support from heritage specialist Mulloway Studio.

The historic centrepiece will be surrounded by a large open lawn, paved seating areas and an English-style garden in the location of the original cottage garden, featuring about 60 trees and more than 3,000 plants and shrubs.

Aspect Studios Director Tim Conybeare said the original cottage site underpinned every aspect of the parks design concept.

“The location of the remnants worked as an important anchor and destination point for the park,” Mr Conybeare said.

“The installation acts as a wayfinding marker and a moment of discovery, designed to bring people into the park.”

Mr Conybeare said the park had been designed to encourage opportunities for a growing and diverse population at Southwark Grounds to spend time outdoors as an extension of their home.

“Through careful consideration of the placement of trees, gardens and structural elements, we wanted to maximise the variety of spaces - a place to connect with friends and family, a place to sit and read a book or just a place to wander through,” he said.

As part of the park’s delivery, a Local Heritage-listed transformer building on nearby Holland Street will be repaired and incorporated into the park entrance.

An arboured laneway will provide off-street access to the park and front a number of townhouses, including Founder’s Row, the first residential homes at Southwark Grounds and now nearing completion.

The six square metre red-brick transformer building, dating from the early 1900s, formed part of the original electrical infrastructure built across Adelaide to support industrial development.

Renewal SA is in discussions with the City of West Torrens to explore opportunities for its future use. These could include securely displaying curated collections of historic artefacts unearthed during excavation of Colonel Light’s cottage or art installations, visible from Holland Street and the park through new glass windows to be installed as part of the restoration.

“We want future residents and visitors to be immersed in the history of Southwark Grounds, and we’ve been seeking opportunities through public space and architecture to incorporate that,” Mr Hogan said.

Colonel Light Park will be built in coordination with The Bond apartments, with both expected to be completed in 2028/29.

The $4 million project, funded by Renewal SA, will be the first of three large public spaces to be delivered within the 8.4-hectare renewal project.

Later stages will include a revitalised riverbank along the site’s northern edge, reflecting the site’s Kaurna history.

Brewery Green, a large central public park overlooked by the historic Walkerville Brew Tower, will pay homage to the site’s industrial history.

Plans for Colonel Light Park come as the first residents prepare to move into Southwark Grounds over the next few months.

Known as Founder’s Row, the collection of 17 townhouses on the western edge of the site facing Holland Street is nearing completion, after construction began in late 2025.

Private developers Contour and Kolabb are both planning to begin construction before the end of the year on a further 66 townhouses, with homes now for sale.

Samaras is also preparing to launch sales for 120 apartments at The Bond, with construction expected to begin next year.

Civil construction company Catcon is progressing ground infrastructure and roads to enable further development across the site, laying the groundwork for Commercial & General to deliver more than 1,000 homes alongside aged care and a range of retail, hospitality and community services.

Southwark Grounds is a state government-led urban renewal project delivered in partnership with the private sector, expected to deliver about 1,700 homes over the next decade.