[COM] Colonial Mutual Building > Mayfair Hotel

[adelaideinsider]

The Colonial Mutual Building does look great on the outside but the basement is completely flooded, which is probably responsible for the delay in development and the fact that the council is not pushing the developers.

You may ask yourself how could the basement get flooded?
Well...

It is extremely likely that the building is connected to the Adelaide underground tunnel network, which if you don't know is an extensive tunnel network build in the 1800's connecting major government buildings and public infrastructure such as parliament house, the train station, Adelaide university and is known to lead from parliament house up the west side of King William street to Victoria square. In other words right underneath the Colonial Mutual Building.
You can read more about the tunnels here:
http://www.sensational-adelaide.com/for ... ?f=4&t=912
and here:
http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=280

The tunnels were apparently completely sealed up after construction work discovered uncovered an entrance. Adelaide council has kept the tunnels as secret as possible.

While rain water is a possible cause of the flooding it is also important to note that the tunnels stretch all the way to the banks of the river Torrens. Considering that Adelaide city is virtually flat the underground tunnel could be able to flood from the river water.

The thing that really gets me is that this building would be worth hundreds of millions to the owner, development seemed to be a certainty but then everything stopped and the building has been left the same for years.. Maybe its simply too expensive to fix, but then again maybe it is just a small part of a MUCH bigger problem for the Adelaide CBD. In recent years many buildings above the tunnels have been vacated and notable corporations have moved. If anyone was to know of such things it would be the banks who moved.

I suggest people keep there eyes open about this and possibly do some of their own investigating.

If the entire tunnel system was flooded, or only parts, it could mean that half of Adelaide would need to be ripped up to fix the problem, and a lot of that would be some of our most treasured buildings.

No wonder the council is keeping its mouth shut.

AdelaideInsider.

[Mr.T]

Adelaideinsider im sure you are exaggerating what is really underground in Adelaide. Surely if such a grand tunnel existed rather that going down the guts of King Will the Tram extension would have been a subway as designed in the MATS plan.

Yes there is a tunnel from the treasury to somewhere near the courts.
Yes there was a tunnel along the Torrens, under King William Road to the Pioneer Womens Memorial Gardens where a train would run from the Adelaide Train Station to the old Jubilee building ( now Uni SA - what an atrocity).
And yes there are tunnels under The Lion in North Adelaide.
But having worked in a building on King William Street, built in the 60's, and assisted in installing fibre and telecommunication through the basement I can confirm directly below this building, and most others is an extensive suridge network.

Can't wait for this CML building to open to the public again, along with the Stone Masons building on North Tce and the church in Adelaide Uni on North Tce, it is one of my favorite icons in Adelaide.

[Ben]

Type: Application Assessed on Merit
Application Number: DA/461/2007/3/B
Lodgement Date: 7/09/2012
Location: 41-55 King William Street, ADELAIDE SA 5000
Description Vary previous authorisation to carry out alterations to existing building and change the use to hotel accommodation with ground floor retail STAGE 3 - DEMOLITION, EARTHQUAKE AND STRUCTURAL (EXCLUDING CURVED STAIR BALUSTRADE, VOID CONSTRUCTION & BALUSTRADE, STAIR TO LEVEL 14, FIRE ISOLATED EXIT HANDRAIL & CUBE FACADE).

[bm7500]

Type: Application Assessed on Merit
Application Number: DA/461/2007/3/B
Lodgement Date: 7/09/2012
Location: 41-55 King William Street, ADELAIDE SA 5000
Description Vary previous authorisation to carry out alterations to existing building and change the use to hotel accommodation with ground floor retail STAGE 3 - DEMOLITION, EARTHQUAKE AND STRUCTURAL (EXCLUDING CURVED STAIR BALUSTRADE, VOID CONSTRUCTION & BALUSTRADE, STAIR TO LEVEL 14, FIRE ISOLATED EXIT HANDRAIL & CUBE FACADE).

Does this mean they are starting work on the cube section?

[Ben]

It says Excluding cube in brackets above.

[Ben]

I Just noticed the variation to include additional 2 levels. Wonder if that will be on top? looks like things should be progeressing well inside.

DA/461/2007/4/B
15/10/2012
Application Assessed on Merit Vary previous authorisation to carry out alterations to existing building and change the use to hotel accommodation with ground floor retail and basement food court - VARIATION - changes to internal floor layout, extension to all floor levels, additional 2 floor levels and variation to facade and new canopy - STAGE 4 - ARCHITECTURAL (EXCLUDING LEVEL 14, CUBE CONSTRUCTION & STAIRS TO RETAIL 1 & 2) & SERVICES
41-55 King William Street, ADELAIDE SA 5000

[Wayno]

on top of what? surely couldn't be an extra 2 floors to the CML building? so is it 2 storeys on the cube?

[Will]

Watpac has been selected as the general contractor for the redevelopment of the CML building.

Here is the media statement:

http://www.watpac.com.au/_files/2011%20 ... ntract.pdf

[crawf]

Finally!

[Wayno]

Fantastic news!

[Vee]

Watpac has been selected as the general contractor for the redevelopment of the CML building.

Here is the media statement:
http://www.watpac.com.au/_files/2011%20 ... ntract.pdf

Great news!
I am pleased to see that this grand old building, on a fabulous site, is about to get a new lease of life and that construction is starting. This is good news for the construction industry and adds some much needed confidence. The site is such a high profile one, it's great to see it's finally happening.

The Adabco group seem to have the right touch for the boutique hotel market so that's another plus. The site is perfectly placed to take advantage of the redeveloped Adelaide Oval and Riverbank and add to the options for accommodation for the many festivals and events in Adelaide.

[skyliner]

Highly suited name too! I hope the 'gothic city' feel is maintained as far as possible.Looking forward to seeing this one!

ADELAIDE - TOWARRDS A GREATER CITY SKYLINE

[crawf]

This looks to have already started, Watpac have set up office and scaffolding has been erected along Gilbert Place.

[Waewick]

I've seen workers in the 80's addition part doing deconstruction work, so it appears to be moving on.

[[Shuz]]

Thank God this one is moving along now. Hopefully once done it will be a classy establishment and some of those undesirables who frequent bus stop X2 will move along elsewhere.