Greaton starts construction of $200m GPO hotel
Construction of a $200m hotel to tower above the historic GPO building has started. See the latest images of the milestone luxury project.
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Construction of a new $200m hotel to tower above the historic GPO site in the CBD has officially commenced.
The long-awaited project will include a 16-level luxury hotel with 285 rooms, a presidential suite, club lounge, restaurants and bars, swimming pool and fitness centre, and function and conference rooms.
It will become the first hotel operated in the state by international chain Marriott International.
Developer Greaton is spearheading the project, which is expected to create more than 600 jobs during construction and 250 ongoing jobs when the hotel opens in 2023.
At a ground-breaking event on Tuesday, Greaton managing director Nicho Teng said the tower would become Adelaide’s “landmark” hotel.
This is taking sod turns to the next level - a mound of dirt dumped on a CBD footpath. And we need hard hats and hi-vis to attend. Classic! #saparlipic.twitter.com/PEsCDUgGQM
— Stacey Lee (@Staceylee_) April 27, 2021
“The hotel will provide a new level of quality and comfort for future guests and the convenience of being right in the heart of the city,” he said.
“This year, in the first quarter, Adelaide’s hotel occupancy rate has achieved over 70 per cent, and is far ahead of any other capital city in Australia.
“After our international borders open we’re expecting South Australia to continue to be a drawcard, and to be an international destination for tourism.
“In order to grow our state’s tourism industry, it’s very important our state is home to a world class hotel - I think South Australia has been waiting for a true 5-star, world-class hotel for a long time.”
Marriott was initially planning to operate the hotel under its Westin brand, but is now working with Greaton to consider which of its 30 hotel brands to introduce to the Adelaide market.
Marriott senior development director Richard Crawford said the luxury offering would attract leisure and corporate travellers from interstate and overseas.
“This particular development will be one of our finest. It will be the best hotel in Adelaide - I have no doubt about that,” he said.
“This hotel will be a gateway, not only to the city but to the regions - and it will open up parts of South Australia to well-heeled affluent Australians.”
Greaton unveiled its vision for the GPO site in 2018, and was initially expected to start construction at the end of 2019, following the relocation of post office services to the nearby GPO Exchange office tower.
However in February the developer secured an extension to its deadline to start work on the project, which will be delivered in two stages - the hotel first, followed by an extensive refurbishment of the heritage-listed GPO building.
Mr Teng said a start date for the second stage, which would create a new retail and hospitality precinct within the historic building, would depend on “market demand”.
Construction of the GPO Hotel is expected to take around two years to complete.
It comes amid a series of recent hotel openings in Adelaide’s CBD, including the Crowne Plaza on Frome Street and the Hotel Indigo on Market Street near Chinatown.
A new Sofitel hotel will open on Currie Street later this year, while other brands including QT Hotels have also flagged intentions to enter the Adelaide market.
Premier Steven Marshall said the GPO hotel project was a “real coup for our city”.
“Not only will it create 850 local jobs over the life of the project, it will add another luxury hotel to the Adelaide CBD offerings - helping to attract more interstate tourists to our great city.”
The GPO project is one of Greaton’s three major projects in South Australia, including the $300m West Franklin residential development and the planned $40m resort at Wirra Wirra winery.
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