The Guardsman restaurant and bar in Adelaide Railway Station revives a bygone era
For more than 30 years, the old Overland Dining Hall in the Adelaide Railway Station sat dormant. Now a stunning new restaurant and bar has injected new life into the space.
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For more than 30 years, the old Overland Dining Hall in Adelaide Railway Station lay dormant, reduced to little more than storage space for the Casino above.
It was a far cry from the restaurant’s glory days as a meeting place for locals and commuters alike. First opened in 1928, it was also the first port of call for Melbourne visitors who’d travelled overnight on The Overland train – hence the restaurant’s name.
Now, following three years of planning and development and a $6 million boost from SkyCity Entertainment, the near-1000 sqm space has been revived – as The Guardsman.
“The Guardsman echoes the original intent of the space, which was as a meeting place for travellers to stop and enjoy a meal,” SkyCity Adelaide’s general manager of marketing, Greg Stirling, said.
“We were very determined in this heritage space to ensure The Guardsman celebrated the best of South Australia, not just the building but the experience we could deliver through our incredible local produce, wine, beer and spirits.”
Coffee and morning pastries are available to order from a counter facing the concourse, while double glass doors open to an indoor dining space and grand central bar.
Original jarrah floors have been painstakingly restored, as have the heritage lights. Popular local architectural firm Studio-Gram spearheaded the interior design, which features a mix of leather booths and tables to seat 250, typography by Tristan Kerr of Uppercase Studio and various period accents. Television screens cater for sports fans, while a private wine room is targeted especially to internationals and business groups. There, between two and 12 people can choose to take one of two South Australian wine flights, or a degustation.
The venue has a total capacity of 560. It is licenced to be 24/7 but currently trade is 6am-11pm with late 2am close on weekends.
SkyCity Adelaide can’t find record of when the Overland Dining Hall ceased trading, but it was no later than 1985, when the Adelaide Casino opened.
Casino staff did, however, recover an original menu. On it, a dish of sausages and mashed potato, served with a hot drink and bread, costs a shilling (twelve pence). Sandwich fillings range from ham to tongue. Tomato is another option, when in season.
The Guardsman’s modern day menu, headed by chef Luke Brabin, is a showcase of South Australian produce.
“They gave me a blank canvas,” says Brabin. “I put my tweaks on it; there are influences from my time in Asia and with Cheong (Liew) and just the food I love to eat.”
Dishes range from Hiramasa Kingfish ceviche and Pt Broughton blue swimmer crab spaghetti, to pub favourites schnitzel and Coopers Pale Ale battered fish and chips. Sausages reappear, this time sourced from Mount Pleasant Butcher and served with pickled cabbage, onion and stout gravy – along with mashed potato.
The drinks list, too, is almost entirely SA-based, with limited exceptions such as Scotch whisky.
While now open to the public, The Guardsman hosts its official launch on February 6.
The investment is in addition to the $330 million Adelaide Casino redevelopment and expansion, which will include a 12-storey luxury hotel. It’s due for completion in October.