Owner of Coca-Cola factory site at Thebarton plans to build a $350m biomedical precinct

An ambitious project would transform Port Rd at Thebarton by turning the former Coca-Cola factory into a biomedical hub – see what’s planned here.

The former Coca-Cola bottling plant at Thebarton would be transformed into a state-of-the-art biomedical precinct under a $350m plan to breathe new life into the site.

Adelaide company Australasian Property Developments has unveiled its ambitious vision for the 3.6ha property, dubbed Bio Hub Adelaide, hoping to capitalise on the city’s burgeoning reputation for world-class biomedical research and facilities.

Under the plans, three eight-storey buildings would be built along Port Road, delivering 44,000sq/m of space for laboratory, medical consulting and general office tenants.

A six-storey hotel and medi-stay facility would be built at the centre of the site, while a mix of townhouses and retirement accommodation would be developed along Cawthorne and Smith streets.

Cafes, shops and other retailers would operate from ground floor tenancies, opening to a central plaza and “village green”.

Three eight-storey medical and office buildings would front Port Road as part of the $350m plan to redevelop the former Coca-Cola bottling plant.

Cafes, shops and other retailers would operate from ground floor tenancies, opening up to a central plaza and “village green”.

About 800 car parks are planned, including in a six-storey car park on Light Terrace.

The project is expected to create more than 1500 jobs during construction and more than 2000 ongoing jobs.

Australasian Property Developments (APD) managing director Pep Rocca said the five-to-six year project would “cement Adelaide’s status as Australia’s biomed capital”.

“As the next chapter for the southern hemisphere’s largest biomed cluster, Bio Hub Adelaide will be an economic backbone for South Australia for generations to come, and create essential jobs and infrastructure at a time when a strong medical industry is so critical,” he said.

“With unparalleled connectivity, the $350m project is a state-of-the-art extension of the existing biomed precinct, and is primely positioned adjacent to the new Royal Adelaide Hospital and South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI).

“We are thrilled to launch Bio Hub Adelaide as our latest vote of confidence in the South Australian economy.”

APD is in talks to secure tenants for the project, with SA Pathology – which plans to relocate from its Frome Road headquarters – and a new Adelaide eye hospital two key targets to anchor the first stage of development.

Tenants are being sought for the laboratory, medical consulting and office space in the three main buildings planned for the former Coca-Cola site.

An underground pneumatic tube for lab samples would connect Bio Hub to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, 500m away.

Samples from a new pathology facility, which would take up about 12,000sq/m, would be sent to the Royal Adelaide Hospital underground via a pneumatic tube – a system that works similar to a vacuum.

Mr Rocca said private and public health organisations were being sought for the development, which is located around 500m from Adelaide’s $5.7 billion biomedical precinct.

The precinct includes the new $2.4 billion Royal Adelaide Hospital, which opened in 2017, and SAHMRI 2 – a $500m building which will become home to Australia’s first proton therapy unit when completed in 2023.

Coca-Cola Amatil ceased bottling at the historic Thebarton plant in 2018 after 66 years of operating from the site.

APD acquired the main facility and landholding last year, while two smaller parcels of land were sold separately to Anglicare SA and industrial supplier Jetwave.

Mr Rocca said he hoped to secure planning approval by the end of next year, with construction of the staged development expected to commence in 2022.