Today, the most significant and attractive city-fringe development opportunity in the state’s recent history opens for developers and investors to input their expertise and creativity.
The billion-dollar Thebarton project, on Port Road, is targeting a minimum of 1000 new homes, with at least 20 per cent affordable housing, across a world-class, diverse, urban neigbourhood on the north-western side of Adelaide.
This mixed-use community, on an 8.4-hectare site, will provide retail, commercial, hospitality and community-use opportunities, with direct access to key transport links, employment centres, cultural and sporting attractions.
Renewal SA Chief Executive Chris Menz says the agency is conducting a market sounding exercise to engage with potential development partners who can bring their experience and skill to a project that is set to revitalise the north-west fringe of Adelaide.
This market sounding exercise will allow developers and investors to provide feedback on the master plan and delivery strategy, as well as gather insights on their interest, preferred level of involvement, development structure and timing in the development.
“Representing a potential $1 billion project combining public and private investment, this site is set to become Adelaide’s next landmark destination,” Mr Menz said.
“This is a genuine chance to contribute to one of the city’s most anticipated urban transformation projects and to create a lasting legacy.”
Mr Menz said the project, on the site of the former West End Brewery, would celebrate the area’s extraordinary heritage and riverbank location, rejuvenate this section of the Karrawirra Parri and improve the connection to the Park Lands to drive both the ongoing transformation of the suburb and investment in the area.
“The precinct’s rich heritage provides the perfect opportunity to blend the old with the new, by incorporating historic elements into a contemporary vision that respects Thebarton’s past while build for the future,” Mr Menz said.
“Thebarton is an opportunity to deliver a city-shaping neighbourhood with outstanding potential that will also be a catalyst for further significant development along this major urban corridor, and will complement the likes of the Bowden and Brompton Gasworks projects to cement the north-western corner of the city as an outstanding place to live, work and play.”
As the master developer, Renewal SA will deliver multiple project elements in support of the successful proponent(s). It will also undertake the delivery of more than one hectare of public open space as part of an enhanced River Torrens Linear Park.
The draft master plan was developed following extensive stakeholder and community consultation. All the feedback from the consultation has now been published in an Engagement Report.
The development will need to respond to the existing character of Thebarton and encompass an attractive, climate-smart, medium-to-high density neighbourhood that favours open green spaces and connects seamlessly with Karrawirra Parri / River Torrens, the Adelaide Park Lands and neighbouring areas.
Key objectives for the development include:
- Generous inclusion of public and open spaces and a new relationship with a rejuvenated Karrawirra Parri / River Torrens
- Integrated street, cycle, walking and public transport network including new shared use path connecting with the Park Lands under Port Road
- Sustainable buildings in an ecological setting with a target of 30 per cent tree canopy
- Revitalised heritage Walkerville Brew Tower, Colonel Light’s “Theberton” Cottage foundations and riverbank
- 6 Star Green Star Communities rating including water sensitive urban design.
The site will also include an innovative Mobility Hub, which will provide for locals who use their own car while also offering services such as share cars, scooters and e-bike charging.
Civil construction is expected to start in mid-2025 with the first residents anticipated to move in late 2026.
The West End Brewery closed in June 2021, marking the end of 135 years of brewing operations on the famed site. Beer was first brewed there in 1886 as the Torrenside Brewery.
The state government reached an agreement to purchase the 8.4-hectare Thebarton site from Lion Beer Wine & Spirits Pty Ltd (Lion) for $61.5 million in September 2023.
Renewal SA has engaged JLL to undertake this market sounding and canvas the opportunity with the development industry.
The sales campaign, earmarked for the first half of 2025, will be shaped and informed by the outcomes of this process.
Mr Menz says Renewal SA intends to tailor its approach to ensure the sales process is as competitive, efficient, and fast as possible.
“We will do this to ensure we attract the highest quality and compelling development proposals to achieve the project’s vision and objectives,” he said.
Renewal SA is also providing the avenue for developers to register interest in helping to define a compelling affordable and/or social housing opportunity for presentation to the federal government for the Housing Australia Future Fund Facility (HAFFF).