News & Discussion: General CBD Development

[HeapsGood]

JAMIE Oliver's global chain of Italian restaurants looks set to come to Adelaide in a development that will transform one of the city's most prominent buildings.

The ground-floor banking chamber in the old Westpac building at the corner of King William Street and North Terrace will be turned into a spectacular dining room for Jamie's Italian under plans devised by the franchise's Australian owner , Pacific Restaurant Group.

The company also wants to use the basement strong rooms, where cash and bullion were kept secure in the bank's heyday, potentially as a bar.

The Westpac building was constructed in the midst of World War II and completed in 1942. It has been unoccupied since 2006 but is on the State Heritage Register.

The building's towering brass door still faces King William Street but much of the original interior has been stripped away.

Still, the managing director of PRG, Adam Heathcote, said the site had huge potential.

"The old banking chamber has so much personality," he said. "It has the potential to be an iconic dining space. You open that door and it's a cavernous space with lovely natural light that comes through the windows.

More: Where else did Jamie Oliver look in Adelaide?

"Where there is opportunity to reinvigorate and re-energise older space such as this one, from a design standpoint it provides an amazing canvas to start with."

Mr Heathcote said he had taken representatives from Jamie's Italian and its London-based design consultants through the building and they also were enthused.

The location fulfilled other key requirements including good passing traffic, high visibility and easy access for potential customers.

"We looked at a number of sites in Adelaide and 2 King William Street satisfies all these parameters and it has enormous history behind it and presents a unique opportunity as a consequence," he said.

PRG is negotiating with the building's owner, who is undertaking major strengthening work to ensure it meets current regulations.

Mr Heathcote said he was "quietly confident" a decision for the project to go ahead would be made in the next two months.

The president of the National Trust in SA, Professor Norman Etherington, said the organisation was pleased the building could be reborn.

"We can only applaud when someone finds a new use for a valuable building. It has a grand banking chamber, comparable in its impact to going into Edmund Wright House. It's an architecturally distinguished building of its time."

The Jamie's Italian franchise started in Oxford, England, four years ago and has now spread to 30 restaurants, mostly in the UK, but also in Ireland and Dubai. In Australia, outlets are operating in Sydney and Perth, with Canberra expected to open later this year.

All Australian outlets have the same menu of pasta and other Italian-leaning favourites, with most main courses priced under $30.

The famous chef, whose books and TV shows introduced many people to Italian cooking, has said that he is responsible for overseeing both the menus and design in the restaurants that carry his name.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/lifestyle ... ndinglinks

[serca]

This building has so much character would look insane with a modern vibrant restaurant on the ground floor

[DaveAdl]

Couldn't find the thread for this but semi-good news Electra House Tender Documents are out now and have a real restaurant feel

[neoballmon]

What happened to the proposed Hungry Jacks on Hindley Street in the City?

Haven't heard of this one, but if it could pop up before this Saturday, that's just be perfect!

But seriously, a HJs on Hindley would do exceptionally well if it trades the same hours as Maccas.i would usually prefer HJs when I'm out, but never want to go through Rundle Mall or down to Grote Street. Would give Maccas a run for their money on a Friday and Saturday night!

[Waewick]

they need to finish refurbishing the building and HJ's would be in i'd say.

[Brucetiki]

Didn't HJ's used to be in Hindley Street years ago in the basement of one of the buildings?

[russo92]

There was a story on a restaurant boom in Peel street in the Advertiser yesturday and it showed Hungry Jacks will be going to Hindley Street

[monotonehell]

Didn't HJ's used to be in Hindley Street years ago in the basement of one of the buildings?

Vague memories... Not in a basement, it was on the southern side of Hindley Street somewhere near what used to be Timezone?

[JAKJ]

Didn't HJ's used to be in Hindley Street years ago in the basement of one of the buildings?

I remember a Pizza Hut in a basement on Hindley street... not sure about HJ's

[Ben]

HJ's was on the opposite side to maccas and was 2 levels. I remeber as a kid eating on the balcony next to timezone. I think the 90's in Adelaide were so much better then present oh the memories ..

[[Shuz]]

HJ's was on the opposite side to maccas and was 2 levels. I remeber as a kid eating on the balcony next to timezone. I think the 90's in Adelaide were so much better then present oh the memories ..

Agree 100%

Wasn't there a HJ's at Glenelg as well, at one point?

[Nathan]

Adelaide was a better place 20 years ago because there was a Hungry Jacks on Hindley Street?

[Ben]

Adelaide was a better place 20 years ago because there was a Hungry Jacks on Hindley Street?

Who said that? I can't see any posts that say that?

[Nathan]

Adelaide was a better place 20 years ago because there was a Hungry Jacks on Hindley Street?

Who said that? I can't see any posts that say that?

In reminiscing about eating at Hungry Jacks, you said:

I think the 90's in Adelaide were so much better then present

[Ben]

I never said the 90's were better "because there was a Hungry Jacks on Hindley Street". It was simply a generalisation. Some people just feel the need to justify their existance by be-littling people. Even if I did mean the 90's were so much better because there was a hungry Jacks on Hindley Street, why the need to add your 2 cents and role eyes?

I can list off countless reasons why the 90's appeared to be more exciting whether they were or not i'm unsure but mainly for children because in the 90's I was a child. These include:

Dazzleland
Timezone on Hindley
John Martins and the Magic Cave
Old David Jones store exhibits (flowers etc) and store windows, pianist
Lego Exhibits in Myer Centre
Visiting my grandma who worked in Miller Andersons Dept Store on Hindley

It was such a more exciting time to be a child then visiting the mall and surrounds these days. All of the above have been taken away and replaced with stores you can find at a suburban mall - boring. maybe its a by product of Globalisation. Everything, everywhere becoming the same.