Adelaide Hills Council reveals plans for $4.3 million arts hub in Lobethal
A $4.3 million arts hub in the Adelaide Hills – aimed at attracting more visitors from interstate and overseas – has been given the green light. SEE THE PLANS.
Adelaide Hills
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A landmark property in the Adelaide Hills will be given a new lease on life with its transformation into a $4.3 million arts hub.
The Adelaide Hills Council has allocated several buildings at the former Onkaparinga Woolen Mill site in Lobethal to be transformed into an arts and heritage hub after approving a draft facility development plan.
Construction is expected to commence early next year with the council having allocated $1.3 million of capital expenditure towards the project.
The remaining funds – totalling $3 million – will be sought through the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Program.
To be known as Fabrik, the hub will include up to 12 studio spaces for artists and creatines to lease, and major exhibition space, including room for the showing of Onkaparinga Woollen Mill memorabilia.
The council’s director of community capacity David Waters said the redevelopment aimed to celebrate the history of the site by opening it up to the public.
“It has always been an important place to the people of Lobethal as it was the town’s
main employer for many years,” Mr Waters said.
“So this project is a great opportunity for people to reconnect with the site and each other through the arts.
“Its ongoing development includes gallery and studio spaces, places for workshops and teaching, a retail shop and heritage interpretation.
“It will also be a place where people can learn, create and share.”
Mr Water said while redevelopment works were still months away, the site was already exceeding all expectations.
The former mill played hosts to a number of community events over the past year, giving visitors an early taste of what is to come.
“We’ve had over 12,000 people through Fabrik in the last 12 months, which is more than double what we hoped,” he said.
“This doesn’t include the thousands of visits to the Bushfire Recovery Centre set up in one of the buildings.
“Our vision is for Fabrik to be the home of textile arts in South Australia as this will draw people from across the country and maybe even textile artists from overseas.
“We’re really excited about the development of Fabrik as an arts and heritage hub in South Australia, and especially the role it will continue to play in connecting and inspiring the local
community as they rebuild and recover.”