Starfish Developments, Lancemore reach Port hotel agreement

A boutique hotel group with a string of venues on the eastern seaboard will operate a new $30m hotel planned for Port Adelaide’s tallest building.

A boutique hotel group has been chosen to operate a new $30m hotel planned for Port Adelaide’s tallest building.

Lancemore Group, which operates a range of premium, inner-city and regional hotels on the eastern seaboard, has struck an agreement with local developer Starfish Developments to operate the new hotel in the Marine and Harbours building on St Vincent Street.

Known as MH Hotel, the venue will include 100 rooms - including a number of “floating suites” on the waterfront promenade - a rooftop bar, restaurant and conference facilities.

It will become Lancemore’s first hotel in South Australia.

Starfish Developments managing director Damon Nagel said while interest from major international chains was strong, the “unique retro” character of the building was suited to a boutique operator.

Artist’s impression of the MH Hotel in Port Adelaide.

“We are incredibly excited to enter into this partnership with the Lancemore Group, who were chosen for their ability to deliver unique, tailored experiences,” he said.

“We are particularly looking forward to their operational style for the running of the rooftop bar, conferencing facilities and the ground floor restaurant.

“We really feel that they will best enhance the boutique nature of the hotel, and bring a new dynamic to the Port.”

Work on a major refurbishment of the 10-storey building, which has been vacant for more than two decades, is expected to commence in the middle of next year with an opening planned for 2022.

The project will create 220 jobs during construction.

Artist's impression of MH Hotel lobby.

Lancemore chief executive Julian Clark said his company had “fallen in love” with the building, which would become the “place to be” in Port Adelaide.

“We believe the MH Hotel by Lancemore will become not just an iconic hotel in Adelaide but also within Australia.”

The hotel forms part of the $168m Dock One housing development being built by Starfish.

The second stage of the project was launched on Saturday, with 28 of 35 townhouses sold. Around two thirds were sold to owner-occupiers with the rest going to investors.