Plans approved for Barossa Council’s $10.7m Barossa Cultural Hub in Tanunda

Plans for a $10m cultural hub in the Barossa Valley – including a heritage centre, performance areas and studios – have been given the tick of approval.

Plans for the proposed new Barossa Cultural Hub. Picture: Phillips/Pilkington Architects

A new $10.7m centre for creative industries and artists in the Barossa Valley is a step closer to reality after gaining development approval.

The State Commission Assessment Panel on Wednesday signed off on plans to build the Barossa Cultural Hub in Tanunda.

The Barossa Council project will include a heritage centre, recording production and green room, art studio and workshop, foyer and bar together with a centralised courtyard, outdoor performance areas and a car park.

Plans for the northern view of the proposed new Barossa Cultural Hub. Picture: Phillips/Pilkington Architects

Barossa Mayor Michael ‘Bim’ Lange said the council would fund $5.85m of the development and seek Federal Government support through the Building Better Regions Fund to make up the $4.85m shortfall.

“The Federal Government is really interested in ensuring we have shovel ready projects, it really adds more strings to our bow to have planning approval,” said Mr Lange.

Designed by Phillips/Pilkington Architects, the hub would be built at the site of the Barossa Regional Gallery and Tanunda Soldiers Memorial Hall.

Mr Lange said the centre would activate the area and create opportunities for the Barossa’s creative industries and artists.

Barossa Council Mayor Michael 'Bim' Lange.
Picture: Barossa Council

“We’ve got so many gifted and talented people in our community who are doing all sorts of things but they are doing them in isolation,” said Mr Lange.

“It would be amazing to bring them together in the hub, and let them branch out from there, perhaps art or music shows would then extend to other towns.

“Providing the spaces to artists and community groups in the hub is strongly in line with our health and wellbeing policy at the council, the hub would positively affect the wellbeing of the whole community.”

“We’ve done some numbers on the hub and we predict for every dollar spent on the project, the region would gain $2.35 back.”

“On top of that we predict 400 jobs would be created from the hub and the community activation it would provide.”

An aerial view of the footprint for the proposed new Barossa Cultural Hub.

Mr Lange believed. if Chateau Tanunda owner John Geber goes ahead with his plans to build a hotel complex nearby, the precinct would become a thriving centre for the Barossa.

“There is an enormous amount of tourism which can be generated through creative activities, it would give us a destination for all of the things we can be so proud of in the Barossa.”

Mr Lange said the centre would help shift the Barossa’s image from a purely wine based region to also being a creative and cultural one.