[SWP] Lot 14 (Old RAH Site)

[HiTouch]

I don’t know why, but these galleries/museums are just expensive. For example, the WA Museum redevelopment was finished in 2020 and cost $400M. Google it … it doesn’t look particularly special. In today’s prices, that’s likely over $500M. Admittedly, it was a very extensive redevelopment which also meant building over the top of existing heritage buildings, which you’d think would be expensive to do.

Interestingly, the WA Museum provides a useful template and potential solution for SA. WA initially planned to build a brand new $500M museum in the old East Perth Power Station - this plan was scuttled when a new state government was elected (sound familiar?). Eventually they decided to redevelop the existing WA Museum site, incorporating existing heritage buildings - and saved money by doing it.

So why couldn’t we incorporate a smaller version of Tarrkarri incorporated within the existing SA Museum, by filling in the grass lawn fronting North Tce? There is a 60m frontage to North Tce and I’m pretty sure you could build a spectacular new front building in that space. Cost - could you do it for $300M in today’s dollars? Cost saving comes from having only one building face look amazing (North Tce) as opposed to all 4 faces in a new build. There also wouldn’t be the construction complexities like the WA Museum.

This new front building could incorporate the Tarrkarri exhibition galleries, new reception/entrance facilities, a special exhibitions space on the ground floor, theatrerette, additional storage etc, and also provide improved circulation to the existing exhibition spaces.

This then leaves the current site earmarked for Tarrkarri as space for a Botanic Gardens expansion. Everyone wins - Tarrkarri is smaller but gets built, government saves money and the public get a bigger Botanic Gardens. Good, no?

just no... 1000 times no

Any actual reason beyond “just no”?

The SA Museum is a beautiful facade that is inherent to the North Terrace DNA.Why would you want to build a new front?

[prometheus2704]

The SA Museum is a beautiful facade that is inherent to the North Terrace DNA.Why would you want to build a new front?

Really? This is a beautiful facade that is inherent to the North Terrrace DNA?

[HiTouch]

The SA Museum is a beautiful facade that is inherent to the North Terrace DNA.Why would you want to build a new front?

Really? This is a beautiful facade that is inherent to the North Terrrace DNA?

Absolutely, it's one of the most people-activated areas of North Terrace's cultural boulevard. Sure the glass aspects of the facade itself could be updated, but the space is important

[Llessur2002]

Absolutely, it's one of the most people-activated areas of North Terrace's cultural boulevard. Sure the glass aspects of the facade itself could be updated, but the space is important

I echo that, it's used heavily by school groups and parents with kids. Also, filling in that gap will hide the east/west facades of the museum buildings which arguably contribute more to the North Terrace streetscape than the southern facades due to their size.

[AndyWelsh]

Absolutely, it's one of the most people-activated areas of North Terrace's cultural boulevard. Sure the glass aspects of the facade itself could be updated, but the space is important

I echo that, it's used heavily by school groups and parents with kids. Also, filling in that gap will hide the east/west facades of the museum buildings which arguably contribute more to the North Terrace streetscape than the southern facades due to their size.

Agree for all the reasons above. I’d hate to see it built over.


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[Patrick_27]

People underestimate just how much space exists along North Terrace, there is plenty of grass there for people to safely congregate; not to mention the Armoury Lawns out the back of the Museum where school groups could gather. As for the heritage elements currently on display, the original Museum plans from the last century were to fill in the space between the Jervois, North and East Wing(s), the north wing (despite being older than the East Wing) was only a temporary measure but the state then ran out of money hence the original vision not coming to fruition. The proposal put forward a decade ago was the best way forward for the SA Museum, glass building that allows visibility of the three wings, whilst building two further exhibition spaces below where the grass is now. Our current exhibition capacity for the Museum is embarrassing and if don't believe me, go look at the lacklustre Vikings exhibition that just opened, it's no bigger than a couple of classrooms. If people are so hellbent on preserving this open space citing heritage as the reason, but why not demand that the north wing have its open mezzanine reinstated and the entry into the Mortlock Wing reopened.

Picture 1 & 2: Proposal/Vision put forward ten or more years ago (originally costed at $100m)
Picture 3: original proposal for the Museum
Picture 4: Original interior of the North Wing.

[Patrick_27]

People underestimate just how much space exists along North Terrace, there is plenty of grass there for people to safely congregate; not to mention the Armoury Lawns out the back of the Museum where school groups could gather. As for the heritage elements currently on display, the original Museum plans from the last century were to fill in the space between the Jervois, North and East Wing(s), the north wing (despite being older than the East Wing) was only a temporary measure but the state then ran out of money hence the original vision not coming to fruition. The proposal put forward a decade ago was the best way forward for the SA Museum, glass building that allows visibility of the three wings, whilst building two further exhibition spaces below where the grass is now. Our current exhibition capacity for the Museum is embarrassing and if don't believe me, go look at the lacklustre Vikings exhibition that just opened, it's no bigger than a couple of classrooms. If people are so hellbent on preserving this open space citing heritage as the reason, but why not demand that the north wing have its open mezzanine reinstated and the entry into the Mortlock Wing reopened.

Picture 1 & 2: Proposal/Vision put forward ten or more years ago (originally costed at $100m)
Picture 3: original proposal for the Museum
Picture 4: Original interior of the North Wing.

[Bobski]

In other news, ABC is looking to build a new headquarters and vacate its Collinswoood building by 2029:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-13/ ... /104932724

They're underaking a feasibility study with the SA government to identify a 'central location' for the move, along with the currently colocated State Opera, State Theatre and Country Arts.

Personally, I'd love to see it built in the West End so that it can connect with the future Adelaide University and nearby arts bodies.

Cross-quoting this post by SRW from the metropolitan development thread.

If the Indigenous museum isn't happening, I wonder of the vacant site is being considered for this? It is a "central location", would put the ABC news crew in an ideal spot for CBD action, live crosses & political pressers, and the opera/theatre groups would be near the Festival Theatre, Fringe, Elder Conservatorium etc.

[I also love the idea of so many creatives being neighbours with the defence technology boffins and space nerds ]

[Patrick_27]

In other news, ABC is looking to build a new headquarters and vacate its Collinswoood building by 2029:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-13/ ... /104932724

They're underaking a feasibility study with the SA government to identify a 'central location' for the move, along with the currently colocated State Opera, State Theatre and Country Arts.

Personally, I'd love to see it built in the West End so that it can connect with the future Adelaide University and nearby arts bodies.

Cross-quoting this post by SRW from the metropolitan development thread.

If the Indigenous museum isn't happening, I wonder of the vacant site is being considered for this? It is a "central location", would put the ABC news crew in an ideal spot for CBD action, live crosses & political pressers, and the opera/theatre groups would be near the Festival Theatre, Fringe, Elder Conservatorium etc.

[I also love the idea of so many creatives being neighbours with the defence technology boffins and space nerds ]

Perhaps not the Tarrkarri site for it's sheer size, but the site that's been left open on Frome Street where the Libs had the hospitality and culinary school pinned would be a good fit.

[SRW]

In other news, ABC is looking to build a new headquarters and vacate its Collinswoood building by 2029:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-13/ ... /104932724

They're underaking a feasibility study with the SA government to identify a 'central location' for the move, along with the currently colocated State Opera, State Theatre and Country Arts.

Personally, I'd love to see it built in the West End so that it can connect with the future Adelaide University and nearby arts bodies.

Cross-quoting this post by SRW from the metropolitan development thread.

If the Indigenous museum isn't happening, I wonder of the vacant site is being considered for this? It is a "central location", would put the ABC news crew in an ideal spot for CBD action, live crosses & political pressers, and the opera/theatre groups would be near the Festival Theatre, Fringe, Elder Conservatorium etc.

[I also love the idea of so many creatives being neighbours with the defence technology boffins and space nerds ]

Perhaps not the Tarrkarri site for it's sheer size, but the site that's been left open on Frome Street where the Libs had the hospitality and culinary school pinned would be a good fit.

My preference is still for the West End because that area desperately needs regeneration but these are not bad ideas. Could potentially be combined with the long overdue concert hall — which I think would be better sited with the Festival Centre, but you could fit here along with a corresponding outdoor venue à la Sidney Myer Music Bowl.

[Nathan]

Perhaps an ideal tenant for the Festival Plaza Tower 2 (much like SBS at Federation Square).

I just hope the existing building at Collinswood is retained and repurposed tastefully.

[Bobski]

My preference is still for the West End because that area desperately needs regeneration but these are not bad ideas. Could potentially be combined with the long overdue concert hall — which I think would be better sited with the Festival Centre, but you could fit here along with a corresponding outdoor venue à la Sidney Myer Music Bowl.

Yes I went down an imaginary rabbit hole of an ampitheatre adjacent the Botanic Gardens, a night-time opera/orchestra reverberating through the trees, a stroll down to the National Wine Centre... there's definitely a demographic that would lap that up

But there have been some great points made here about other potential locations for the ABC and theatre/opera groups. Hopefully whatever they do with the Tarrkarri site it's a project to be excited about, and something worthy of such a fantastic location.

Edit: Forgive me if this has already been discussed, but is there a reason they couldn't expand Tandanya to display more of the Indigenous museum pieces in storage? I think it's still closed due to being too run down to occupy, so why not renovate & develop?

[abc]

My preference is still for the West End because that area desperately needs regeneration but these are not bad ideas. Could potentially be combined with the long overdue concert hall — which I think would be better sited with the Festival Centre, but you could fit here along with a corresponding outdoor venue à la Sidney Myer Music Bowl.

Yes I went down an imaginary rabbit hole of an ampitheatre adjacent the Botanic Gardens, a night-time opera/orchestra reverberating through the trees, a stroll down to the National Wine Centre... there's definitely a demographic that would lap that up

But there have been some great points made here about other potential locations for the ABC and theatre/opera groups. Hopefully whatever they do with the Tarrkarri site it's a project to be excited about, and something worthy of such a fantastic location.

Edit: Forgive me if this has already been discussed, but is there a reason they couldn't expand Tandanya to display more of the Indigenous museum pieces in storage? I think it's still closed due to being too run down to occupy, so why not renovate & develop?

they got rid of the original ampitheatre in front of the festival centre and replaced it with a ramp

[SRW]

Perhaps an ideal tenant for the Festival Plaza Tower 2 (much like SBS at Federation Square).

I just hope the existing building at Collinswood is retained and repurposed tastefully.

It's not nothing that ABC's new Western Sydney studio just opened in Walker Corp's Parramatta Square development. The design is essentially lift and shift for the Adelaide towers and perhaps so too its anchor tenant.

(I know we're getting off-topic here but the Festival Tower thread is locked down)

[Bobski]

I was just reading about the new studio on the ABC website. How good would it be if they had this kind of set up here, with the view out the window either being across the city towards the hills, or over the river/oval and up towards North Adelaide (if situated up high in Tower 2) or (to keep it on this thread's topic!) a panorama from a Lot 14 development out over the Botanic Gardens. I'm now going to be really disappointed if they don't replicate something like this here

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